Testing transmitter-receiver apparatus for sector cell base station

• US 5,423,072 A
• Filed: 07/12/1993
• Issued: 06/06/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Iwashita, Masakazu, Kojima, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Application Number:
  US08/089,374
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 455/25, 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/33.3, 455/53.1, 455/56.1, 455/67.1, 455/67.4, 455/67.7, 455/115, 455/129, 455/101, 455/272, 455/277.1, 455/280, 343/702, 343/703, 343/795, 343/872
• US Class Current: 455/67.14
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/10 Radiation diagrams of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/108 Combination of a dipole with a plane reflecting surface H01Q19/106 takes precedence; strip line H01Q9/065
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/103 Reflected power, e.g. return loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/16 Test equipment located at the transmitter

Abstract

In sector cell base stations, directive antennae with box-shaped reflectors are widely used. By way of a testing antenna incorporated such a reflector box, stable and appropriate electromagnetic coupling to the antenna elements of the directive antenna can be realized and undesirable coupling from outside the reflector box can be prevented, thereby improving the reliability of the testing system.

Claims

1. A testing transmitter-receiver apparatus for a sector cell base station comprising:

a directive antenna comprising antenna elements;

a base station transmitter-receiver connected to said directive antenna;

a reflector box having an open top portion, said directive antenna being mounted on a bottom surface of said reflector box;

a testing antenna also mounted on a bottom surface of said reflector box;

a testing transmitter-receiver connected to said testing antenna, said testing transmitter-receiver receiving, through said testing antenna, testing signals as radio waves radiated from said antenna elements, and transmitting, through said testing antenna, testing signals as radio waves toward said antenna elements;

a lid to close and cover said open top portion, said lid having a pair of dielectric covers at locations opposed to said antenna elements;

said testing antenna being of a size and orientation relative to said antenna elements to exhibit a desired degree of electromagnetic coupling with said antenna elements.

2. A testing transmitter-receiver apparatus for a sector cell base station comprising:

a directive antenna comprising antenna elements;

a base station transmitter-receiver connected to said directive antenna;

a reflector box having an open top portion, said directive antenna being mounted on a bottom surface of said reflector box;

a testing antenna mounted in said reflector box in such a manner that a coupling loop of said testing antenna extends into said reflector box through a hole in said bottom surface;

a testing transmitter-receiver connected to said testing antenna, said testing transmitter-receiver receiving, through said testing antenna, testing signals as radio waves radiated from said antenna elements, and transmitting, through said testing antenna, testing signals as radio waves toward said antenna elements;

a lid to close and cover said open top portion, said lid having a pair of dielectric covers at locations opposed to said antenna elements;

said coupling loop being of a size and orientation relative to said antenna elements that said coupling loop exhibits a desired degree of electromagnetic coupling with said antenna elements.