Tri-Pole Antenna Element And Antenna Array

• US 20120280879A1
• Filed: 05/02/2012
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Martin Lee, Timofeev, Igor E., Wu, Ligang
• Granted Patent: US 9,077,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/798
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/24 the primary active element being centre-fed and substantially straight, e.g. H-antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001

Abstract

A dual polarized base station antenna is provided, including a reflector having a longitudinal axis and an array of tri-pole elements disposed on the reflector. Each tri-pole element has a first side arm and a second side arm. The tri-pole element also includes a center arm which is approximately perpendicular to the first and second side arms. The tri-pole elements are oriented such that either the side arms or the center arm are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reflector. The antenna further includes a feed network having a first signal path coupled to the first arms of the tri-pole elements and a second signal path coupled to the second anus of the tri-pole elements. In this example, the array of tri-pole elements produces a cross-polarized beam at +45 degrees and −45 degrees from the longitudinal axis. Tri-pole arrays may be used in a multiband antenna.

Claims

1. A dual polarized base station antenna, comprising:

a. a reflector having a longitudinal axis;

b. an array of tri-pole elements disposed on the reflector, each tri-pole element having;

i. a first side arm;

ii. a second side arm; and

iii. a center arm, approximately perpendicular to the first and second side arms;

wherein one of the first side arm and the center arm is parallel to the longitudinal axis; and

c. a feed network having a first signal path coupled to the first arms of the tri-pole elements and a second signal path coupled to the second arms of the tri-pole elements.

2. The dual polarized base station antenna of claim 1, wherein the array of tri-pole elements has two polarizations, oriented at +45 degrees and −

45 degrees from the longitudinal axis.

3. The dual polarized base station antenna of claim 1, wherein the first and second side arms are parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4. The dual polarized base station antenna of claim 3, wherein the array of tri-pole elements are arranged such that alternating tri-pole elements are inverted with respect to each other.

5. The dual polarized base station antenna of claim 1, wherein the center arm is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

6. The dual polarized base station antenna of claim 5, wherein the array of tri-pole elements are arranged such that alternating tri-pole elements are inverted with respect to each other.

7. The dual polarized base station antenna of claim 1, wherein the array of tri-pole elements comprises a first set of tri-pole elements offset to the left with respect to the longitudinal axis and a second set of tri-pole elements offset to the right with respect to the longitudinal axis.

8. The dual polarized base station antenna of claim 1, wherein horizontal walls are placed between the tri-pole elements.

9. The dual polarized antenna of claim 1, further comprising a second array of tri-pole radiating elements, where each array of tri-pole elements is arranged such that the first and second side arms are parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the first and second arrays of tri-pole elements face opposite directions with respect to each other.

10. The dual polarized antenna of claim 9, further comprising at least one tri-pole element located at an end of the reflector and oriented such that the center arm is parallel to the longitudinal direction.

11. The dual polarized antenna of claim 1, wherein the first and second signal paths comprise first and second microstrip lines.

12. The dual polarized antenna of claim 11, wherein the first and second microstrip lines have a common ground conductor coupled to the central arm.

13. The dual polarized antenna of claim 1, wherein the first side arm, the second side arm, and the central arm have a loop shape.

14. The dual polarized antenna of claim 1, wherein the tri-pole elements include directors.

15. The dual polarized antenna of claim 14, wherein the directors are T-shaped with approximately the same orientation as the first and second side aims and the center

16. The dual polarized antenna of claim 1, wherein metal walls are located between the tri-pole elements.

17. A dual polarized multiband base station antenna, comprising:

a. a reflector having a longitudinal axis;

b. an array of low band tri-pole elements disposed on the reflector, each tri-pole element having;

i. a first side arm;

ii. a second side arm; and

iii. a center arm, approximately perpendicular to the first and second side arms;

wherein one of the first side arm and the center arm is parallel to the longitudinal axis such that the array of tri-pole elements has two polarizations, oriented at +45 degrees and −

45 degrees from the longitudinal axis;

c. a low band feed network having a first signal path coupled to the first arms of the tri-pole elements and a second signal path coupled to the second arms of the tri-pole elements;

d. a first array of dual-polarized high band radiating elements; and

e. a first high band feed network coupled to the high band radiating elements.

18. The dual polarized base station antenna of claim 17, wherein the array of tri-pole elements comprises a first set of tri-pole elements offset to the left with respect to the longitudinal axis and a second set of tri-pole elements offset to the right with respect to the longitudinal axis.

19. The dual polarized base station antenna of claim 17, wherein the array of tri-pole elements comprises a first set of tri-pole elements wherein the first side arm is parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second set of tri-pole elements wherein the center arm is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

20. The dual polarized multiband antenna of claim 19, wherein the first set of tri-pole elements and the second set of tri-pole elements are arranged such that they form a box.

21. The dual polarized multiband base station antenna of claim 17, wherein the high band radiating elements are interspersed with the array of tri-pole elements.

22. The dual polarized multiband base station antenna of claim 17, further comprising:

a. a second array of dual-polarized high band radiating elements; and

b. a second high band feed network coupled to the high band radiating elements of the second array.

23. The dual polarized multiband base station antenna of claim 22, wherein the first array of dual polarized high band radiating elements operate on a frequency band that is different from the second array of dual polarized high band radiating elements.

24. The dual polarized multiband base station antenna of claim 22, wherein the first and second arrays of dual polarized high band radiating elements operate in the same band.