Antenna control system
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A method of adjusting a fixed beam elevation in a cellular base station telecommunication system, the system having a panel antenna adapted to mount a plurality of vertically spaced radiating elements, the method comprising:
- providing a differential electromechanical phase shifter having a transmission line section coupled to said radiating elements, and a transmission line input which is moveable relative to said transmission line section to differentially adjust physical path lengths of transmission line outputs to said coupled radiating elements;
operatively linking a first controller to said electromechanical phase shifter;
operatively coupling a second controller to said first controller from a location remote from said first controller; and
employing said first and second controllers and from the location of said second controller effecting controlled movement of said transmission line input relative to said transmission line section to adjust the beam from a first fixed elevation to a second fixed elevation.
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Abstract
An antenna control system enabling the remote variation of antenna beam tilt. A drive means continuously adjusts phase shifters of a feed distribution network to radiating elements to continuously vary antenna beam tilt. A controller enables the beam tilt of a number of antenna at a site to be remotely varied.
61 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method of adjusting a fixed beam elevation in a cellular base station telecommunication system, the system having a panel antenna adapted to mount a plurality of vertically spaced radiating elements, the method comprising:
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providing a differential electromechanical phase shifter having a transmission line section coupled to said radiating elements, and a transmission line input which is moveable relative to said transmission line section to differentially adjust physical path lengths of transmission line outputs to said coupled radiating elements;
operatively linking a first controller to said electromechanical phase shifter;
operatively coupling a second controller to said first controller from a location remote from said first controller; and
employing said first and second controllers and from the location of said second controller effecting controlled movement of said transmission line input relative to said transmission line section to adjust the beam from a first fixed elevation to a second fixed elevation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
causing the motor to displace said transmission line input to a displacement limit position corresponding to a predetermined signal phasing; and
providing a predetermined number of pulses to the motor to cause the motor to displace said transmission line input away from said displacement limit position by a predetermined amount so as to achieve a predetermined beam elevation.
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5. The method of claim 1 wherein the phase shifter has plastic components to reduce intermodulation distortion.
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6. The method of claim 1 wherein said phase shifter is adapted to adjust beam elevation selected in response to traffic demands.
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7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said operatively linking and operatively coupling steps uses a wireless link.
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8. The method of claim 7 further including the step of configuring said wireless link as a radio link.
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9. The method of claim 1 further including the step of locking said phase shifter after it has been adjusted.
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10. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second controllers control said phase shifter through a telephone link.
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11. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said controllers is personal computer.
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12. The method of claim 1 further including the step of locating said first controller at an antenna support structure, and remotely locating said second controller from said first controller.
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13. The method of claim 1 further including the step of locating said first and second controllers remotely from said antenna.
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14. The method of claim 1 further including the step of adjusting said phase shifter to produce an increase in an elevation angle of the beam or a decrease in an elevation angle of the beam, said adjusting performed by at least one of said first and second controllers.
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15. The method of claim 1 including the step of adjusting said phase shifter to produce selected different phasing of signals supplied to at least selected radiating elements, said adjusting performed by at least one of said first and second controllers.
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16. The method of claim 1 including the step of adjusting a phasing of signals supplied to at least selected radiating elements by predetermined amounts, said adjusting performed by at least one of said first and second controllers.
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17. The method of claim 1 including the step of measuring a phase value of signals supplied to at least selected radiating elements, said measuring performed by at least one of said first and second controllers.
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18. A cellular base station telecommunication system, comprising:
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a panel antenna adapted to mount a plurality of spaced radiating elements producing a beam having a fixed elevation;
a differential electromechanical phase shifter having a transmission line section coupled to said radiating elements and a transmission line input which is moveable relative to said transmission line section to differentially adjust physical path lengths of transmission line outputs to the coupled radiating elements;
an electric motor mechanically coupled to said phase shifter;
a first controller operatively linked to said electromechanical phase shifter; and
a second controller operatively linked to said first controller, said first and second controllers being configured to effect displacement of said transmission line input relative to said transmission line section to adjust the beam from a first fixed elevation to a second fixed elevation. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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- 37. An antenna control arrangement for use in or with a cellular base station telecommunication system, the system having an electromechanical phase shifter and an antenna with a plurality of radiating elements coupled to a feed network, the control arrangement comprising a hierarchical organization of controllers coupled to and operatively controlling said electromechanical phase shifter.
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43. An antenna control arrangement for use in or with a cellular base station telecommunication system, the antenna control arrangement comprising:
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an antenna with a plurality of radiating elements;
the antenna coupled to a feed network having a power-dividing differential electromechanical phase shifter; and
first and second controllers for communicating control signals to said electromechanical phase shifter. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. A cellular base station telecommunication system having an antenna with a plurality of radiating elements coupled to a feed network, the system comprising:
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an electromechanical phase shifter having at least one movable component such that a relative displacement of the at least one moveable component varies a physical path length of signals supplied to at least selected radiating elements;
a motor coupled to at least one of said moveable components, and a first controller configured to provide drive signals to said motor. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A cellular base station telecommunication system, the system developing a beam, the system comprising:
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an antenna having a plurality of radiating elements;
a signal feed network operatively coupled to said radiating elements;
an electromechanical phase shifter formed as part of said signal feed network; and
a portable or handheld controller configured to control said phase shifter.
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56. A method for adjusting a beam of a cellular base station telecommunication system, the system having an antenna with a plurality of radiating elements driven through a signal feed network to develop the beam, a method comprising the steps of:
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providing an electromechanical phase shifter that forms a part of the signal feed network; and
controlling said phase shifter with a portable or handheld controller.
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Specification