Antenna apparatus of relay system

• US 20040224629A1
• Filed: 01/28/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R-Tron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: R-Tron, Inc.
• Inventors: Moon, Sung-Joon
• Granted Patent: US 7,146,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0613 using simultaneous transmission H04B7/0686 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1555 Selecting relay station antenna mode, e.g. selecting omnidirectional -, directional beams, selecting polarizations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Disclosed is an antenna apparatus of a relay system. The relay system includes a link antenna apparatus transmitting and receiving electric signals to and from a base station, a coverage antenna apparatus transmitting and receiving electric signals to and from subscriber terminals, and a repeater system connected between the link antenna apparatus and the coverage antenna apparatus to bidirectionally amplify electric signals therebetween. The antenna apparatus is one of the link antenna apparatus and the coverage antenna apparatus and includes: at least one radiation element; and a power feeder controlling electric field intensity and phases of signals transmitted from or received by the radiation element, thereby offsetting beam patterns having an influence on antenna isolation of the antenna apparatus. In the power feeder, since phase shifters and attenuators are provided at power-feed lines connected with radiation elements so as to offset the beam patterns, the link and cover-age antenna apparatuses can be disposed adjacent to each other and easily installed at reduced cost, and transmission lines can be shortened, thereby reducing the power loss.

Claims

1. An antenna apparatus of a relay system, the relay system including a link antenna apparatus transmitting and receiving electric signals to and from a base station, a coverage antenna apparatus transmitting and receiving electric signals to and from subscriber terminals, and a repeater system connected between the link antenna apparatus and the coverage antenna apparatus to bidirectionally amplify electric signals therebetween, the antenna apparatus being one of the link antenna apparatus and the coverage antenna apparatus, the antenna apparatus comprising:

at least one radiation element; and

a power feeder controlling electric field intensity and phases of signals transmitted from or received by the radiation element, thereby offsetting beam patterns having an influence on antenna isolation of the antenna apparatus.

2. An antenna apparatus of a relay system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna apparatus comprises:

n (n is an integer larger than or equal to one) radiation elements arranged on a flat plate, each radiation element radiating or receiving signals to be transmitted or received;

a power feeder including phase shifters and attenuators provided at power-feed lines connected with the radiation elements, respectively, so that the power feeder can control the electric field intensity and phases of the signals supplied to the radiation elements; and

a coupler/distributor combining n signals outputted from the power feeder or distributing a signal through multiple paths of the power feeder.

3. An antenna apparatus of a relay system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna apparatus is a passive antenna apparatus comprising an array of at least one passive radiation element.

4. An antenna apparatus of a relay system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna apparatus is an active antenna apparatus comprising an array of at least one active radiation element requiring electric power.

5. An antenna apparatus of a relay system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a predetermined object is disposed between the link antenna apparatus and the coverage antenna apparatus, so as to increase the antenna isolation between the link antenna apparatus and the coverage antenna apparatus.

6. An antenna apparatus of a relay system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the predetermined object is a reflection plate, an antenna supporter made from fiberglass reinforced plastics (FRP), or a material shielding the power-feed lines of the power feeder.

7. An antenna apparatus of a relay system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the antenna apparatus is a passive antenna apparatus comprising an array of at least one passive radiation element.

8. An antenna apparatus of a relay system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the antenna apparatus is an active antenna apparatus comprising an array of at least one active radiation element requiring electric power.

9. An antenna apparatus of a relay system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a predetermined object is disposed between the link antenna apparatus and the coverage antenna apparatus, so as to increase the antenna isolation between the link antenna apparatus and the coverage antenna apparatus.

10. An antenna apparatus of a relay system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the predetermined object is a reflection plate, an antenna supporter made from fiberglass reinforced plastics (FRP), or a material shielding the power-feed lines of the power feeder.