Interlaced multiband antenna arrays

• US 8,896,493 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fractus SA
• Inventors: Baliarda, Carles Puente, Robert, Jordi Romeu, Boris, Sebastian Blanch
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer, Michael C
• Application Number:
  US13/530,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20120262359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/844, 343/853
• US Class Current: 343/844
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/42 using two or more imbricated arrays H01Q5/49 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures

Abstract

Antenna arrays which can work simultaneously in various frequency bands thanks to the physical disposition of the elements which constitute them, and also the multiband behavior of some elements situated strategically in the array. The configuration of the array is described based on the juxtaposition or interleaving of various conventional mono-band arrays working in the different bands of interest. In those positions in which elements of different multiband arrays come together, a multiband antenna is employed which covers the different working frequency bands. The advantages with respect to the classic configuration of using one array for each frequency band are: saving in cost of the global radiating system and its installation (one array replaces several), and its size and visual and environmental impact are reduced in the case of base stations and repeater stations for communication systems.

Claims

1. An interlaced multiband antenna array comprising:

a ground plane layer;

a first plurality of antenna elements operating in a first continuous frequency range and a second continuous frequency range, the first and second continuous frequency ranges being non-overlapping frequency ranges;

a second plurality of antenna elements operating only in the second continuous frequency range;

the first plurality and the second plurality of antenna elements arranged on the ground plane layer, and substantially arranged along a first direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the interlaced multiband antenna array;

the first plurality of antenna elements comprising at least eight antenna elements;

the second plurality of antenna elements comprising at least four antenna elements;

for a majority of the antenna elements of the second plurality of antenna elements, an antenna element of the second plurality of antenna elements is placed between only two antenna elements of the first plurality of antenna elements;

a spacing relative to a wavelength of the second continuous frequency range between antenna elements of the second plurality of antenna elements is substantially twice a spacing relative to a wavelength of the first continuous frequency range between antenna elements of the first plurality of antenna elements;

each antenna element of the first plurality of antenna elements comprises a plurality of portions electromagnetically coupled both at the first continuous frequency range and at the second continuous frequency range; and

an operating frequency of the first continuous frequency range is situated around 900 MHz and an operating frequency of the second continuous frequency range is situated around 1800 MHz.

2. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 1, wherein a first distribution network is employed to excite the first plurality of antenna elements, and a second distribution network is employed to excite the second plurality of antenna elements.

3. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 1, wherein the interlaced multiband antenna array is arranged to receive electromagnetic signals in a double linear polarization at +45 degree and −

45 degree with respect to the longitudinal axis of the interlaced multiband antenna array.

4. A communication network comprising:

a plurality of base stations;

wherein at least some of the plurality of base stations comprises the interlaced multiband antenna array as in claim 1; and

the plurality of base stations provides coverage in the first continuous frequency range and the second continuous frequency range.

5. A communication system comprising:

a network of base stations;

wherein the network of base stations includes a plurality of base stations, at least some of the plurality of base stations comprising the interlaced multiband antenna array as in claim 2; and

the network of base stations proving coverage for a customer base, the customer base being greater than a customer base capable of being provided by the network of base stations if the network of base stations comprises only mono-band antenna arrays.

6. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 1, wherein the second continuous frequency range includes at least two licensed cellular frequency bands.

7. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 6, wherein the first continuous frequency range includes at least two licensed cellular frequency bands.

8. A communication system comprising:

a network of base stations; and

wherein the network of base stations includes a plurality of base stations, at least some of the plurality of base stations comprise an interlaced multiband antenna array as in claim 3.

9. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 3, wherein the spacing between antenna elements of the first plurality of antenna elements is smaller than one wavelength for an operating wavelength of the first continuous frequency range.

10. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 5, wherein a number of antenna elements of the first plurality of antenna elements is at least equal to a number of antenna elements of the second plurality of antenna elements.

11. An interlaced multiband antenna array comprising:

a ground plane layer;

a first set of antenna elements transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves in a first continuous frequency range and in a second continuous frequency range, the first and second continuous frequency ranges being non-overlapping frequency ranges;

a second set of antenna elements transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves only in the second continuous frequency range;

the first set and the second set of antenna elements arranged on the ground plane and substantially arranged along a first direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the interlaced multiband antenna array;

a plurality of antenna elements of the first set and a plurality of antenna elements of the second set arranged in alternating positions and a spacing between antenna elements of the first set of antenna elements is substantially equal to a spacing between antenna elements of the second set of antenna elements;

the spacing between antenna elements of the first set of antenna elements is smaller than one wavelength for an operating wavelength of the first frequency range;

the spacing between antenna elements of the second set of antenna elements is larger than a half-wavelength for an operating wavelength of the second continuous frequency range;

each antenna element of the first set of antenna elements comprises a plurality of portions electromagnetically coupled both at the first continuous frequency range and at the second continuous frequency range; and

the second continuous frequency range including a working frequency being at least two times higher than a working frequency for the first continuous frequency range.

12. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 11, wherein the interlaced multiband antenna array is arranged to receive electromagnetic signals in a double linear polarization at +45 degree and −

45 degree with respect to the longitudinal axis of the interlaced multiband antenna array.

13. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 12, wherein the spacing between antenna elements of the first set of antenna elements is smaller than 0.9 wavelength for a highest frequency of the first continuous frequency range.

14. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 13, wherein the antenna elements of the first set of antenna elements comprise stacked patch antennas.

15. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 12, wherein the second continuous frequency range includes at least two cellular mobile telephone systems.

16. A communication system comprising:

a network of base stations; and

wherein the network of base stations includes a plurality of base stations, at least some of the plurality of base stations comprise an interlaced multiband antenna array as in claim 12.

17. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 16, wherein the double linear polarization at +45 degree and −

45 degree is achieved by exciting the antenna elements at various points.

18. An interlaced multiband antenna array comprising:

a ground plane layer;

a set of antenna elements operating in a first frequency band, a second frequency-band and a third frequency band;

the set of antenna elements arranged on the ground plane layer and substantially arranged along a first direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the interlaced multiband antenna array;

a spacing between antenna elements of the set of antenna elements is smaller than a wavelength for a lowest frequency of the first frequency band;

the spacing between antenna elements of the set of antenna elements is larger than a half-wavelength for a highest frequency of the third frequency band;

a ratio between a working frequency of the third frequency band and a working frequency of the second frequency band is around 2.33/2;

a working frequency of the first frequency band is lower than a working frequency of the second frequency band;

wherein the interlaced multiband antenna array has double linear polarization at +45 degree and −

45 degree with respect to the longitudinal axis of the interlaced multiband antenna array; and

wherein a single distribution network is employed to excite a plurality of antenna elements of the set of antenna elements for each of the polarization.

19. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 18, wherein a ratio between a central frequency of the second frequency band and a central frequency of the first frequency range is smaller than 1.5.

20. A communication system comprising:

a network of base stations; and

wherein the network of base stations includes a plurality of base stations, at least some of the plurality of base stations comprising the interlaced multiband antenna array as in claim 18.