Panel Antenna with Variable Phase Shifter

• US 20080024385A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Outdoor Wireless Networks LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,463,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/905
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/005 using remotely controlled antenna positioning or scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/32 by mechanical means

Abstract

A panel antenna having a variable phase shifter module with at least one main-PCB having an input trace coupled to a wiper junction. An arcuate trace on the main-PCB extending between a first output trace and a second output trace, the arcuate trace having an arc center proximate the wiper junction. A wiper-PCB having a linking trace thereon; the wiper-PCB rotatably coupled to the main-PCB proximate the wiper junction with the linking trace facing the first main-PCB. Because the linking trace faces the main-PCB, the wiper-PCB may be formed from inexpensive and structurally resilient substrate material. The linking trace coupling the wiper junction with the arcuate trace. Multiple arcuate traces may be linked to further output traces to add additional outputs, each having variable phase shift between them, depending upon the position of the wiper-PCB. Multiple main-PCBs may be stacked upon each other and the wiper-PCBs of each controlled by a common linkage.

Claims

1. A panel antenna comprising:

an array of radiating elements;

a feed network connecting a signal input to said array of radiating elements; and

a phase shifter assembly located in said feed network and configured to adjust the phasing of signals fed to said array of radiating elements, said phase shifter assembly comprising a moveable conductive component coupled to an input and capacitively coupled to a transmission line segment of the network between radiating elements, the wiper conductive component or transmission line segment having a dielectric coating providing dielectric separation of the transmission line segment and the wiper conductive component.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the transmission line segment is a trace on a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board having an arcuate edge guide surface with an arc center proximate the coupling between the conductive component and the input;

and a clip coupled to the printed circuit board to bias the conductive component against the printed circuit board about the arcuate edge guide surface.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the transmission line segment is a trace on a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board having an arcuate guide slot with an arc center proximate the coupling between the conductive component and the input;

and a fastener extending through the guide slot and a guide hole formed in the conductive component to bias the conductive component against the printed circuit board.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said moveable conductive component comprises a conductive trace on a printed circuit board wiper body, the trace being located on the side of the wiper body facing the transmission line segment.

5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein said transmission line segment is configured as a segment of a circle and wherein said wiper body is pivoted at the center of the circle.

6. The antenna of claim 4, wherein said wiper body includes an extension adapted for coupling to a phase shifter adjustment linkage.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said dielectric coating is composed of soldermask or an organic compound.

8. The antenna of claim 1, further including a predetermined plurality of arrays of radiating elements, and a corresponding plurality of said phase shifter assemblies arranged in a stack to control signal phasing in said plurality of arrays of radiating elements.

9. The antenna of claim 8, having a coupling arrangement configured to couple said plurality of phase shifter assemblies together and to a phase shifter adjustment linkage such that movement of the linkage moves said plurality of phase shifter assemblies together as one unit.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the array of radiating elements, the feed network and the phase shifter assembly is surrounded by a radome.

11. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the phase shifter is mounted to a backplane of the antenna.

12. A panel antenna comprising:

an array of radiating elements;

a feed network connecting a signal input to said array of radiating elements; and

a phase shifter assembly located in said feed network and configured to adjust the phasing of signals fed to said array of radiating elements;

the phase shifter having a first main printed circuit board having an input trace coupled to a first wiper junction;

a first arcuate trace extending between a first output trace and a second output trace on the first main printed circuit board, the first arcuate trace having an arc center proximate the first wiper junction; and

a first wiper printed circuit board having a linking trace thereon;

the first wiper printed circuit board rotatably coupled to the first main printed circuit board proximate the first wiper junction with the linking trace facing the first main printed circuit board;

the linking trace coupling the first wiper junction with the first arcuate trace; and

an arcuate edge guide surface formed in the first main printed circuit board having an arc center proximate the first wiper junction; and

a clip coupled to the first wiper printed circuit board to bias the first wiper printed circuit board against the first main printed circuit board about the arcuate edge guide surface.

13. The antenna of claim 12, further including a second arcuate trace extending between a third output trace and a fourth output trace;

the second arcuate trace having an arc center proximate the first wiper junction.

14. The antenna of claim 12, wherein the array of radiating elements, the feed network and the phase shifter assembly is surrounded by a radome.

15. The antenna of claim 12, wherein the phase shifter assembly is located within an environmentally sealed area of the antenna.