Radiocommunications antenna with misalignment of radiation lobe by variable phase shifter

• US 20060066494A1
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaybeam Wireless SAS (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jaybeam Wireless SAS (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Gartner, Thierry, Trejtnar, Zdenek, Pallone, Anthony, Desneux, Arnaud
• Granted Patent: US 7,286,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/757
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/32 by mechanical means

Abstract

A radiocommunications antenna, notably for cellular radiotelephony network base station, of radiation lobe depointing type induced by variable phase adjustment unit including an actuating device including an actuator (13 or 41) whereof the displacement controls the phase shift, characterised in that it includes a module, insertable into the antenna and extractible therefrom, including a mechanical or electromechanical device co-operating with the actuating device to control the displacement of the actuator (13 or 41) when the module is installed in the antenna.

Claims

1. A radiocommunications antenna, notably for cellular radiotelephony network base station, of radiation lobe depointing type induced by variable phase adjustment unit comprising an actuating device including an actuator (13 or 41) whereof the displacement controls the phase shift, characterised in that it includes a module, insertable into the antenna and extractible therefrom, including a mechanical or electromechanical device co-operating with the actuating device to control the displacement of the-actuator (13 or 41) when the module is installed in the antenna.

2. An antenna according to claim 1 characterised in that the mechanical or electromechanical device comprises an engine-type mobile actuating block (15), for remote actuation, or of manual actuation type, and the actuating device comprises a means removably connectable to the actuating block (10,11).

3. An antenna according to claim 2 characterised in that the means removably connectable to the mobile actuating block (10,11) comprises a square (12) having a first portion (12A) and a second portion (12B), the first portion (12A) being permanently interconnected with the actuating block (10,11) and the second portion (12B) being removably connectable to the actuator (13).

4. An antenna according to claim 1 characterised in that the actuating device comprises:

a control pin (21), comprising a screw (21A) and a shaft (21C) comprising grooves (21E), said control pin (21) being terminated at the end of said screw (21A) by a recess (21B),

a block (23), interconnected with a fixed portion (42) of the antenna and comprising a tapered orifice (23C) forming a bearing (23A), and

a mobile stop (22), interconnected with said actuator (41), said mobile stop (22) comprising a notch (22A) intended for receiving said recess (21B) of said control pin (21),

so that a rotation of said screw (21A), and thereby of the control pin (21), in said bearing (23A) induces the displacement of said actuator (41).

5. An antenna according to claim 4 characterised in that:

the actuating device comprises a cylindrical part (25), comprising a first pinion gear (25A) and a through-bore (25D),

the wall of said bore (25D) comprising tabs (25E), said cylindrical part (25) being installed coaxially on the shaft (21C) of the control pin (21), and

the electromechanical device of the module includes a second pinion gear (32), which can be actuated by means of an engine (31), engaging with the first gear (25A) when the module is installed in the antenna, in order to induce the rotation of the control pin (21) by a rotation of the first gear (25A),

the tabs (25E) of the cylindrical part (25) being engaged in the grooves (21E) of the driving shaft (21), in order to enable a coaxial translation movement between said cylindrical part (25) and the control pin (21).

6. An antenna according to claim 4 characterised in that it comprises a sleeve (24), comprising angle value graduations of the <

<

tilt>

> and

a bore (24B), installed coaxially by means of a pivot link on the shaft (21C) of the control pin (21) and protruding outside the module through an aperture (30A) provided in the plate (30), which moves simultaneously with the actuator (41) of the phase adjustment unit.

7. An antenna according to claim 6 characterised in that said sleeve (24) includes coloured zone graduations, corresponding to a value of the tilt, enabling a rapid acquisition, without reading, of the angle value of the <

<

tilt>

>

.

8. An antenna according to claim 4, characterised in that the actuator (41) is a plate, or several plates interconnected to one another, sliding inside a fixed portion (42) of the antenna.

9. An antenna according to claim 1, characterised in that the extractible module comprises a position sensor (16 or 20) enabling to determine the position of the actuator (13 or 41).

10. An antenna according to claim 9 characterised in that said position sensor (16 or 20) is an absolute position sensor, so that the module does not require any calibration operations, when inserting the module in said antenna.

11. An antenna according to claim 9 characterised in that the sleeve (24) includes a finger (24A) acting on a cam (33) actuating said position sensor (20), said cam (33) and said position sensor (20) being interconnected with said extractible module.

12. An antenna according to claim 11 characterised in that a spring (34) enables to maintain the cam (33) to rest permanently on the finger (24A), said spring (34) being interconnected with said extractible module.

13. An antenna according to claim 5 characterised in that it comprises a sleeve (24), comprising angle value graduations of the <

<

tilt>

> and

a bore (24B), installed coaxially by means of a pivot link on the shaft (21C) of the control pin (21) and protruding outside the module through an aperture (30A) provided in the plate (30), which moves simultaneously with the actuator (41) of the phase adjustment unit.

14. An antenna according to claim 10 characterised in that the sleeve (24) includes a finger (24A) acting on a cam (33) actuating said position sensor (20), said cam (33) and said position sensor (20) being interconnected with said extractible module.