Single Port Dual Antenna

• US 20150097744A1
• Filed: 12/12/2014
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ownbey, Judson Kyle, Clemons, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,356,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/758
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/005 providing two patterns of opposite direction; back to back antennas H01Q25/004 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for transmitting radio frequency includes antenna elements configured to transmit radio frequency beams including a horizontal beam widths and vertical beam widths. The antenna elements are positioned to transmit radio frequency in directions to cover areas independent of each other. The system includes a port operatively coupled to the antenna elements to transmit power to the antenna elements to cause the antenna elements to transmit radio frequency in the respective directions. The antenna elements and the port form a distributed antenna system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

positioning a first antenna element to transmit a first radio frequency beam in a first direction, the first radio frequency beam covering a first area when transmitted in the first direction, the first area defined based at least in part on a first horizontal beam width of the first radio frequency beam, a first vertical beam width of the first radio frequency beam, and a power transmitted to the first antenna element;

positioning a second antenna element, relative to the first antenna element, to transmit a second radio frequency beam in a second direction, the second radio frequency beam covering a second area when transmitted in the second direction, wherein the second area is defined based at least in part on a second horizontal beam width of the second radio frequency beam, a second vertical beam width of the second radio frequency beam, and the power transmitted to the second antenna element, wherein positioning the first antenna element is independent of positioning the second antenna element; and

causing transmission of the power to the first antenna element and the second antenna element through a port to cause the first antenna element to transmit the first radio frequency beam in the first direction and the second antenna element to transmit the second radio frequency beam in the second direction, wherein the port is common to the first antenna element and the second antenna element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area and the second area form an area of coverage.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the area of coverage is altered by changing the first direction relative to the second direction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area is spatially independent of the second area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area is at least partially below the first antenna element when the first antenna element is down-tilted by a first down tilt angle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first down tilt angle is alterable from a location remote from the first antenna element.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second area is at least partially below the second antenna element when the second antenna element is down-tilted by a second down tilt angle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first down tilt angle and the second down tilt angle are different.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second down tilt angle is alterable from a location remote from the second antenna element.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first down tilt angle is alterable independent of the second down tilt angle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first antenna element, the second antenna element, and the port are positioned in a housing constructed and arranged to retain the first antenna element, the second antenna element, and the port.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a cylindrical cross-section.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning a third antenna element, relative to at least the first antenna element, to transmit a third radio frequency beam in a third direction, the third radio frequency beam covering a third area when transmitted in the third direction, the third area spatially independent of at least one of the first area or the second area, wherein the third area is defined based at least in part on a third horizontal beam width of the third radio frequency beam, a third vertical beam width of the third radio frequency beam, and the power transmitted to the third antenna element.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first horizontal beam width is between 33 degrees and 105 degrees.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first vertical beam width is between 4 degrees and 24 degrees.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the second horizontal beam width is between 33 degrees and 105 degrees.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second vertical beam width is between 4 degrees and 24 degrees.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first antenna element and the second antenna element are positioned at a first end of a mount and the port is positioned at a second end of the mount.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a position of the first antenna element relative to the second antenna element at the first end of the mount is variable.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first antenna element and the second antenna element are positioned on the first end of the mount with an angle of between 33 degrees and 180 degrees between the first antenna element and the second antenna element.