Lens based antenna for super high capacity wireless communications systems

• US 10,050,346 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsing Inc.
• Original Assignee: Matsing Inc.
• Inventors: Matitsine, Serguei, Matytsine, Leonid, DeMarco, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Huedung
• Application Number:
  US15/593,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20170264017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 343753
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/02 Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/46 Active lenses or reflecting arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/30 Arrangements for providing operation on different wavebands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering

Abstract

An antenna includes a stack of cylindrical lenses combined with feed elements to provide multi-beam coverage for a given wireless communication sector. Each cylindrical lens disc has approximately the same height as the feed elements being used with the lens. To overcome the problem of interference from cables and opposing feeds, feed elements are placed around the lens. The cylindrical lenses are stacked such that a small gap exists between each pair of adjacent cylindrical lenses, allowing for cable lines to pass through between the pair of the cylindrical lenses, and thus removing interference for 360 degree coverage. Cable lines are arranged such that they only traverse the portion of the circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical lenses that do not interfere with the field of view of the RF signals generated by the corresponding feed elements.

Claims

1. An antenna for use in wireless communications, comprising:

a first sub-antenna, comprising a first cylindrical lens and a first emitter that is coupled to the first cylindrical lens, wherein the first cylindrical lens and the first emitter are arranged to provide a first field of view at a first wavelength;

a second sub-antenna, comprising a second cylindrical lens and a second emitter that is coupled to the second cylindrical lens, wherein the second cylindrical lens and the second emitter are arranged to provide a second field of view at a second wavelength; and

a cable that is communicatively coupled to the first and second emitters by traversing a first gap between the first and second cylindrical lenses,

wherein the first and second field of views are non-overlapping,

wherein the first and second sub-antennae are arranged vertically along their respective central axes.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first and second wavelengths are substantially identical.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein each of the first field of view and the second field of view is substantially equal to 120°

.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the cable is in contact with a flat surface of at least one of the first cylindrical lens and the second cylindrical lens.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the cable creates no impingement upon the first and second field of views.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the cable traverses along the curve surface of the second cylindrical lens substantially near the second emitter.

7. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a third sub-antenna, comprising a third cylindrical lens and a third emitter that is coupled to the third cylindrical lens, wherein the third cylindrical lens and the third emitter are arranged to provide a third field of view at a third wavelength,

wherein the cable is further communicatively coupled to the third emitter by traversing a second gap between the second and third cylindrical lenses.

8. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a third sub-antenna, comprising a third cylindrical lens and a third emitter that is coupled to the third cylindrical lens, wherein the third cylindrical lens and the third emitter are arranged to provide a third field of view at a third wavelength; and

a second cable is communicatively coupled to the third emitter by traversing a second gap between the second and third cylindrical lenses.

9. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a third sub-antenna, comprising a third cylindrical lens and a third emitter that is coupled to the third cylindrical lens, wherein the third cylindrical lens and the third emitter are arranged to provide a third field of view at a third wavelength;

a fourth sub-antenna, comprising a fourth cylindrical lens and a fourth emitter that is coupled to the fourth cylindrical lens, wherein the fourth cylindrical lens and the fourth emitter are arranged to provide a fourth field of view at a fourth wavelength; and

wherein the cable is further communicatively coupled to the third and fourth emitters by traversing a second gap between the second and third cylindrical lenses, and a third gap between the third and fourth cylindrical lenses,

wherein the third and fourth field of views are non-overlapping,

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth sub-antennae are arranged vertically along their respective central axes.

10. The antenna of claim 9, wherein the third and fourth wavelengths are substantially identical.

11. The antenna of claim 10, wherein the first and second wavelengths are different from the third and fourth wavelengths.

12. The antenna of claim 11, wherein the first and second wavelengths cover a low band and the third and fourth wavelengths cover a high band.