Abstract: A cross-dipole radiating element includes first and second polymer-based coplanar waveguide feed stalks, and first and second pairs of polymer-based radiating arms, which are supported by and electrically coupled to the first and second coplanar waveguide feed stalks. These polymer-based feed stalks and radiating arms are configured as a unitary polymer substrate, which is selectively metallized to define a cross-dipole radiating element. The first and second feed stalks may be configured as finite grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW) feed stalks, which are spaced-apart from each other on an underlying polymer base. The unitary polymer substrate may include the polymer base.

Abstract: Antennas are provided. An antenna includes an antenna array having a plurality of sub-arrays that each include a plurality of radiating elements. Moreover, the antenna includes a multi-stage beamforming network having a first stage including a plurality of first Butler matrices and a second stage including a plurality of second Butler matrices that are coupled between the first Butler matrices and the sub-arrays. The first Butler matrices are each coupled to each of the second Butler matrices. The second Butler matrices are coupled to the sub-arrays, respectively, without any cables between the second Butler matrices and the sub-arrays.

Abstract: A twin beam base station antenna includes a first array that has a plurality of columns of first frequency band radiating elements, the first array configured to form a first antenna beam that provides coverage throughout a first sub-sector of a three-sector base station. The radiating elements in a first of the columns in the first array have a first azimuth boresight pointing direction and the radiating elements in a second of the columns in the first array have a second azimuth boresight pointing direction that is offset from the first azimuth boresight pointing direction by at least 10°. The radiating elements in the second of the columns in the first array are electrically steered.

Abstract: Twin-beam base station antennas are provided. A twin-beam base station antenna includes a plurality of vertical columns of radiating elements that are configured to transmit radio frequency signals in a frequency band. The radiating elements have bent metal radiator arms including tip portions that face respective center axes of the radiating elements.

Abstract: A sector-splitting base station antenna includes a plurality of RF ports, a plurality of columns of radiating elements, a first beamforming network that is coupled between a first subset of the RF ports and a first antenna array that comprises a first subset of the columns of radiating elements, and a second beamforming network that is coupled between a second subset of the RF ports and a second antenna array that comprises a second subset of the columns of radiating elements. The first beamforming network and the first antenna array are configured to generate a first plurality of antenna beams that provide coverage to a first side of a sector of a cell of a cellular communications system but not to a second side of the sector, and the second beamforming network and the second antenna array are configured to generate a second plurality of antenna beams that provide coverage to the second side of the sector but not to the first side of the sector.

Abstract: A base station antenna includes a radio frequency (RF) lens positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from a radiating element, the RF lens including an RF energy focusing material and a first heat dissipation channel that extends through the RF energy focusing material of the RF lens and contains a cooling fluid.

Abstract: A lensed multi-beam base station antenna may include a plurality of linear arrays of radiating elements, a plurality of reflectors, a sidelobe suppressor, and a lens. Each array may include a plurality of radiating elements (e.g., two or more radiating elements) that extends forwardly from a planar section of a respective reflector. The sidelobe suppressor may comprise radiofrequency (RF) absorber material that absorbs energy that is emitted by a first of the arrays and that is directed toward a reflector underneath a second of the arrays. The sidelobe suppressor may comprise a RF choke that reduces the RF energy emitted by a first of the arrays that is directed toward a reflector underneath a second of the arrays.

Abstract: In order to reduce large sidelobes that may result from using a base station antenna with increased electronic downtilt, base station antennas according to the present disclosure may have a plurality of modules in which the columns of radiating elements of at least one of the modules are staggered or offset with respect to each other. For example, a multi-beam cellular antenna may include an antenna array having a plurality of modules, each module comprising at least three columns of radiating elements each having first polarization radiators, wherein the columns of radiating elements of at least one of the modules are staggered with respect to each other; and an antenna feed network configured to couple at least a first input signal and a second input signal to each first polarization radiator of each of the radiating elements included in a first of the plurality of modules.

Abstract: A base station antenna (BSA) includes a reflector having a main reflector surface thereon, which extends between first and second sidewalls thereof. First and second choke-within-a-choke assemblies are provided on first and second sides of the reflector, respectively. The first choke-within-a-choke assembly includes: a first relatively low-band choke defined on one side thereof by the first sidewall of the reflector, and a first relatively high-band choke contacting on two sides thereof a rear surface of the reflector and an inner surface of the first sidewall. The second choke-within-a-choke assembly includes: a second relatively low-band choke defined on one side thereof by the second sidewall of the reflector, and a second relatively high-band choke contacting on two sides thereof the rear surface of the reflector and an inner surface of the second sidewall.

Abstract: A base station antenna includes a radio frequency (RF) lens positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from a radiating element, the RF lens including an RF energy focusing material and a first heat dissipation channel that extends through the RF energy focusing material of the RF lens and contains a cooling fluid.

Abstract: Base station antennas are provided herein. A base station antenna includes a multiband beam-former array having a plurality of vertical columns of radiating elements. In some embodiments, at least two of the vertical columns are commonly fed for a first frequency band of the multiband beam-former array that is lower than a second frequency band of the multiband beam-former array. Related methods of operation are also provided.

Abstract: A cross-dipole radiating element includes first and second polymer-based coplanar waveguide feed stalks, and first and second pairs of polymer-based radiating arms, which are supported by and electrically coupled to the first and second coplanar waveguide feed stalks. These polymer-based feed stalks and radiating arms are configured as a unitary polymer substrate, which is selectively metallized to define a cross-dipole radiating element. The first and second feed stalks may be configured as finite grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW) feed stalks, which are spaced-apart from each other on an underlying polymer base. The unitary polymer substrate may include the polymer base.

Abstract: A communications antenna includes: an elongate reflector comprising a plurality of panels that define a regular polygonal profile, the reflector having a longitudinal axis; a plurality of circuit boards, each of the circuit boards mounted to a respective reflector panel; a plurality of subsets of radiating elements, each subset of radiating elements mounted in a column on a front surface of a respective circuit board; and a plurality of phase cables, each of the phase cables being mounted to two circuit boards disposed on diametrically opposed reflector panels, the phase cables being positioned forwardly of the circuit boards.

Abstract: A base station antenna (BSA) includes a reflector having a main reflector surface thereon, which extends between first and second sidewalls thereof. First and second choke-within-a-choke assemblies are provided on first and second sides of the reflector, respectively. The first choke-within-a-choke assembly includes: a first relatively low-band choke defined on one side thereof by the first sidewall of the reflector, and a first relatively high-band choke contacting on two sides thereof a rear surface of the reflector and an inner surface of the first sidewall. The second choke-within-a-choke assembly includes: a second relatively low-band choke defined on one side thereof by the second sidewall of the reflector, and a second relatively high-band choke contacting on two sides thereof the rear surface of the reflector and an inner surface of the second sidewall.

Abstract: A base station antenna includes a radio frequency (RF) lens positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from a radiating element, the RF lens including an RF energy focusing material and a first heat dissipation channel that extends through the RF energy focusing material of the RF lens and contains a cooling fluid.

Abstract: In order to reduce large sidelobes that may result from using a base station antenna with increased electronic downtilt, base station antennas according to the present disclosure may have a plurality of modules in which the columns of radiating elements of at least one of the modules are staggered or offset with respect to each other. For example, a multi-beam cellular antenna may include an antenna array having a plurality of modules, each module comprising at least three columns of radiating elements each having first polarization radiators, wherein the columns of radiating elements of at least one of the modules are staggered with respect to each other; and an antenna feed network configured to couple at least a first input signal and a second input signal to each first polarization radiator of each of the radiating elements included in a first of the plurality of modules.

Abstract: A dual-polarized radiating element includes a first dipole radiator that has a first dipole arm that generally extends along a first axis and a second dipole arm that generally extends along a second axis that is different from the first axis, and a second dipole radiator that has a third dipole arm that generally extends along the first axis and a fourth dipole arm that generally extends along a third axis that is different from the first axis. At least one of the first through fourth dipole arms may be a cloaked dipole arm that include inductive elements that are configured to suppress currents in a higher frequency band.

Abstract: A lensed multi-beam base station antenna may include a plurality of linear arrays of radiating elements, a plurality of reflectors, a sidelobe suppressor, and a lens. Each array may include a plurality of radiating elements (e.g., two or more radiating elements) that extends forwardly from a planar section of a respective reflector. The sidelobe suppressor may comprise radiofrequency (RF) absorber material that absorbs energy that is emitted by a first of the arrays and that is directed toward a reflector underneath a second of the arrays. The sidelobe suppressor may comprise a RF choke that reduces the RF energy emitted by a first of the arrays that is directed toward a reflector underneath a second of the arrays.

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 twin beam base station antenna includes a first array that has a plurality of columns of first frequency band radiating elements, the first array configured to form a first antenna beam that provides coverage throughout a first sub-sector of a three-sector base station. The radiating elements in a first of the columns in the first array have a first azimuth boresight pointing direction and the radiating elements in a second of the columns in the first array have a second azimuth boresight pointing direction that is offset from the first azimuth boresight pointing direction by at least 10°. The radiating elements in the second of the columns in the first array are electrically steered.