Interlaced multiband antenna arrays

• US 9,905,940 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2014
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fractus SA
• Inventors: Boris, Sebastian Blanch, Robert, Jordi Romeu, Baliarda, Carles Puente
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Graham
• Application Number:
  US14/529,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20150065151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 343700 MS, 343725, 343844, 343853
• 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 antenna array comprising:

a ground plane layer;

a first set of antenna elements arranged on the ground plane layer and being configured to provide operation of the antenna array in at least three frequency bands respectively corresponding to three cellular frequency bands;

a second set of antenna elements arranged on the ground layer and being configured to provide operation of the antenna array in two of the three frequency bands;

the first set of antenna elements and the second set of antenna elements are substantially arranged along a longitudinal direction of the antenna array; and

the first set of antenna elements and the second set of antenna elements are arranged on alternating positions along the longitudinal direction,

wherein a ratio of a spacing between antenna elements of the first set to a wavelength of a first frequency band of the three frequency bands is substantially half of a ratio of a spacing between antenna elements of the second set to a wavelength of a second frequency band of the three frequency bands.

2. The antenna array of claim 1, further comprising:

a first distribution network configured to excite the first set of antenna elements, and a second distribution network configured to excite the antenna elements providing operation of the antenna array at the second band and a third frequency band of the three frequency bands.

3. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein the first set of antenna elements comprises a plurality of single multiband antenna elements, and each of the single multiband antenna elements comprises a plurality of electromagnetically coupled portions that are configured to interact with each other.

4. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein a ratio between a frequency of the third frequency band and a frequency of the second frequency band is less than 1.5.

5. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein a frequency for the first frequency band is situated around 900 MHz, a frequency for the second frequency band is situated around 1800 MHz, and a frequency for the third frequency band is situated around 2100 MHz.

6. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein the three frequency bands are not separated by the same scale factor.

7. A communication system comprising:

a network of base stations comprising a plurality of base stations, at least some of the plurality of base stations comprising the antenna array of claim 1.

8. An antenna array comprising:

a ground plane layer;

a first plurality of antenna elements arranged on the ground plane and being configured to provide operation of the antenna array in at least first and second frequency bands respectively corresponding to two cellular frequency bands, the first and second frequency bands being non-overlapping frequency bands; and

a second plurality of antenna elements arranged on the ground plane layer and being configured to provide operation of the antenna array in the second frequency band,

wherein the first plurality of antenna elements and the second plurality of antenna elements are substantially arranged along a longitudinal direction of the antenna array; and

a ratio of a spacing between antenna elements providing operation at the first frequency band to an operating wavelength of the first frequency band is substantially the same as a ratio of a spacing between antenna elements providing operation at the second frequency band to an operating wavelength of the second frequency band.

9. The antenna array of claim 8, wherein the antenna elements of the first plurality and the antenna elements of the second plurality are arranged in alternating positions along the longitudinal direction of the antenna array.

10. The antenna array of claim 9, wherein a ratio between an operating frequency of the second frequency band and an operating frequency of the first frequency band is greater than two.

11. The antenna array of claim 8, wherein each antenna element of the first plurality of antenna elements comprises a plurality of electromagnetically coupled portions configured to interact with each other.

12. The antenna array of claim 11, further comprising a first distribution network configured to excite the first plurality of antenna elements, and a second distribution network configured to excite the antenna elements providing operation at the second frequency band.

13. A communication system comprising:

a network of base stations comprising a plurality of base stations, at least some of the plurality of base stations comprising the antenna array of claim 8.

14. An antenna array comprising:

a ground plane layer;

a plurality of antenna elements arranged on the ground plane layer along a longitudinal direction of the antenna array;

a first distribution network configured to excite the plurality of antenna elements for a first polarization; and

a second distribution network configured to excite the plurality of antenna elements for a second polarization, the first and second polarizations being orthogonal polarizations, wherein;

the plurality of antenna elements are configured to provide operation of the antenna array in three frequency bands respectively associated with three cellular frequency bands;

the highest frequency of a first frequency band of the three frequency bands is less than the lowest frequency of a second frequency band of the three frequency bands and the lowest frequency of a third frequency band of the three frequency bands is greater than the highest frequency of the second frequency band;

a ratio between a frequency of the third frequency band and a frequency of the first frequency band is less than 1.5;

a spacing between the antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements is less than a wavelength of the lowest operating frequency of the first frequency band; and

a spacing between the antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements is greater than a half wavelength of the highest frequency of the third frequency band.

15. The antenna array of claim 14, wherein a first spacing between a first pair of adjacent antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements is different from a second spacing between a second pair of adjacent antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements.

16. The antenna array of claim 14, wherein any operating frequencies of the third frequency band does not correspond to an integer factor of an operating frequency of the first frequency band.

17. The antenna array of claim 14, wherein the three frequency bands are not separated by the same scale factor.

18. The antenna array of claim 14, wherein the antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements comprises patch antennas.

19. A communication system comprising:

a network of base stations comprising a plurality of base stations, at least some of the plurality of base stations comprising the antenna array according to claim 14.