Active antenna system (AAS) radio frequency (RF) module with heat sink integrated antenna reflector

• US 9,356,359 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ma, Zhengxiang, Plaza, Daniel, Ou, Shengjun, Pierides, Alexis, Gong, Minwei
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US13/775,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20130222201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,193 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/834, 343/837, 343/912, 343/781.R, 343/781.P, 343/833
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/02 Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out ; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/10 using reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/106 using two or more intersecting plane surfaces, e.g. corner reflector antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

On-board heat dissipation can be achieved in radio frequency (RF) modules by integrating a heat sink into the RF module'"'"'s antenna reflector. Said integration achieves a compact and aesthetically pleasing RF module design that reduces the overall footprint of modular active antenna systems (AASs). Embodiment antenna reflectors include portions that are perforated and/or exposed to free flowing air to provide enhanced heat dissipation capability.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

a radiating element; and

an antenna reflector comprising a reflective face configured to reflect electromagnetic signals radiated from the radiating element, and a heat dissipating face configured to dissipate heat generated by the antenna into free-flowing air, the heat dissipating face facing away from the radiating element, the reflective face of the antenna reflector and the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector being different faces on the same physical component.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna reflector is the primary heat exchanger for the antenna.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna reflector is perforated.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiating element is affixed to the reflecting face of the antenna reflector.

5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector is exposed to the free-flowing air, and wherein the radiating element is at least partially enclosed within a cavity formed between a radome and the reflective face of the antenna reflector.

6. The antenna of claim 5, wherein the heat dissipating face comprises a plurality of heat dissipating fins, the heat dissipating fins facing away from the antenna reflector.

7. The antenna of claim 5, wherein the reflective face of the antenna reflector includes perforations, the perforations of the reflective face enabling free-flowing air to pass through the reflective face of the antenna reflector to the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector.

8. The antenna of claim 7, wherein the perforations have dimensions smaller than a smallest wavelength radiated by the radiating element during normal operation.

9. The antenna of claim 7, wherein the perforations have dimensions smaller than or equal to lambda/2, where lambda is a smallest wavelength radiated by the radiating element during normal operation.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector faces in an opposite direction from the reflective face of the antenna reflector, and wherein the reflective face of the antenna reflector is smooth and devoid of protrusions.

11. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector and the reflective face of the antenna reflector are formed from the same piece of metal material.

12. An active antenna system (AAS) module comprising:

an antenna reflector having a reflective face and a heat dissipating face, the heat dissipating face configured to dissipate heat generated by the AAS into free-flowing air;

a radiating element fastened to the reflective face of the antenna reflector, the reflective face configured to reflect electromagnetic signals radiated from the radiating element, the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector facing away from the radiating element, the reflective face of the antenna reflector and the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector being different faces on the same physical component; and

a radome affixed to the reflective face of the antenna reflector, wherein the radiating element is at least partially enclosed within a cavity formed between the radome and the reflective face.

13. The AAS of claim 12, wherein the antenna reflector is the primary heat exchanger for the AAS.

14. The AAS of claim 12, wherein the cavity is a weatherproof cavity formed over an encased portion of the reflective face of the antenna reflector, and wherein a non-encased portion of the reflective face of the antenna reflector remains exposed to free-flowing air.

15. The AAS of claim 14, wherein the non-encased portion of the reflective face of the antenna reflector includes perforations.

16. The AAS of claim 15, wherein the perforations are slots.

17. The AAS of claim 15, wherein the perforations are curved.

18. The AAS of claim 15, wherein the perforations are circular.

19. The AAS of claim 15, wherein a widest dimension of the perforations is shorter than a smallest wavelength radiated by the radiating element during normal operation.

20. The AAS of claim 15, wherein a widest dimension of the perforations is less than or equal to lambda/2, where lambda is a smallest wavelength radiated by the radiating element during normal operation.

21. The AAS of claim 15, wherein the perforations are smaller than an average wavelength radiated by the radiating element during normal operation.

22. The AAS of claim 14, wherein the perforations are smaller than or equal to lambda/2, where lambda is an average wavelength radiated by the radiating element during normal operation.

23. The AAS of claim 12, wherein the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector includes a plurality of heat dissipating fins facing away from the antenna reflector.

24. The AAS of claim 23, wherein the heat dissipating face is exposed to free-flowing air.

25. The AAS of claim 23, wherein the heat dissipating face is different than the reflective face.

26. The AAS of claim 12, wherein the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector faces in an opposite direction from the reflective face of the antenna reflector, the reflective face of the antenna reflector configured to reflect electromagnetic signals radiated from the radiating element, and wherein the reflective face of the antenna reflector is smooth and devoid of protrusions.

27. The AAS of claim 12, wherein the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector and the reflective face of the antenna reflector are formed from the same piece of metal material.

28. A method for operating an active antenna, the method comprising:

transmitting or receiving a wireless signal by a radiating element of the active antenna, wherein the wireless signal is at least partially reflected by an antenna reflector of the active antenna; and

dissipating heat from a heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector to free flowing air, the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector facing away from the radiating element of the active antenna, and the reflective face of the antenna reflector and the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector being formed from the same piece of metal material.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the antenna reflector includes perforations.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector includes heat dissipating fins facing away from the radiating element.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the heat dissipating face of the antenna reflector and the reflective face of the antenna reflector are formed from the same piece of metal material.