Interlaced multiband antenna arrays

• US 7,932,870 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• 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:
  US12/476,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20090267863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/844, 343/853, 343/893
• 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 plurality of antenna elements;

wherein the interlaced multiband antenna array is adapted to operate simultaneously on a plurality of working frequency bands;

wherein positions of the plurality of antenna elements result from juxtaposition of a plurality of mono-band antenna arrays, each mono-band antenna array of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays comprises a plurality of mono-band antenna elements;

wherein a number of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays corresponds to a number of the plurality of working frequency bands of the interlaced multiband antenna array;

wherein the interlaced multiband antenna array employs a single multiband antenna element in positions where mono-band antenna elements of a plurality of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays come together;

wherein the single multiband antenna element comprises a plurality of electromagnetically-coupled portions which are adapted to interact with each other to establish radio-electric characteristics of the single multiband antenna element with respect to radiation and impedance patterns that are substantially similar in a plurality of the plurality of working frequency bands;

wherein a central frequency of a first working frequency band of the plurality of working frequency bands does not corresponds to an integer divider of a central frequency of a second working frequency band of the plurality of working frequency bands; and

wherein at least one mono-band antenna element of one of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays operating at said first working frequency band is repositioned to coincide with a nearest mono-band antenna element of another one of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays operating at said second working frequency band.

2. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 1, wherein a single multiband antenna element is also employed in those positions of the interlaced multiband antenna array where mono-band antenna elements of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays do not come together.

3. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 1, wherein two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz.

4. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 1, wherein at least two mono-band antenna elements of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays come together in each position of the interlaced multiband antenna array.

5. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 1, wherein the interlaced multiband antenna array is adapted to operate simultaneously on at least three frequency bands.

6. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 1, wherein two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are an operating band of a GSM service and an operating band of a UMTS service.

7. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 1, wherein two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 1900 MHz and 2100 MHz.

8. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 1, wherein three working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz.

9. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 1, wherein two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 800 MHz and 1900 MHz.

10. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 2, wherein a broadband signal distribution network is employed to excite the plurality of antenna elements for at least two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands.

11. An interlaced multiband antenna array comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements;

wherein the interlaced multiband antenna array is adapted to operate simultaneously on a plurality of working frequency bands;

wherein positions of the plurality of antenna elements result from juxtaposition of a plurality of mono-band antenna arrays, each mono-band antenna array of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays comprises a plurality of mono-band antenna elements;

wherein a number of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays corresponds to a number of the plurality of working frequency bands of the interlaced multiband antenna array;

wherein the interlaced multiband antenna array employs a single multiband antenna element in positions where mono-band antenna elements of a plurality of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays come together;

wherein the single multiband antenna element comprises a plurality of electromagnetically-coupled portions which are adapted to interact with each other to establish radio-electric characteristics of the single multiband antenna element with respect to radiation and impedance patterns that are substantially similar in a plurality of the plurality of working frequency bands;

wherein the single multiband antenna operates a first working frequency band and a second working frequency band of the plurality of working frequency bands, a central frequency of said second working frequency band being larger than a central frequency larger of the first working frequency band; and

wherein a ratio between the central frequency of said second working frequency band and the central frequency of said first working frequency band is smaller than 1.5.

12. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 11, wherein a first mono-band antenna array of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays operates said first working frequency band;

wherein a second mono-band antenna array of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays operates said second working frequency band;

wherein a geometrical arrangement of the plurality of mono-band antenna elements of said first mono-band antenna array defines a first length along a first direction;

wherein a geometrical arrangement of the plurality of mono-band antenna elements of said second mono-band antenna array defines a second length along said first direction; and

wherein a ratio between the second length and the first length is not inversely proportional to the ratio between the central frequency of said second working frequency band and the central frequency of said first working frequency band.

13. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 11, wherein the first working frequency band is situated around 1800 MHz and wherein the second working frequency band is situated around 2100 MHz.

14. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 11, wherein the interlaced multiband antenna array is adapted to operate simultaneously on at least three frequency bands.

15. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 11, wherein three working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are two operating bands of two GSM services and an operating band of a UMTS service.

16. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 11, wherein two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 1900 MHz and 2100 MHz.

17. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 11, wherein three working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz.

18. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 11, wherein three working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, and 2100 MHz.

19. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 11, wherein a broadband signal distribution network is employed to excite the plurality of antenna elements for at least two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands.

20. An interlaced multiband antenna array comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements;

wherein the interlaced multiband antenna array is adapted to operate simultaneously on a plurality of working frequency bands;

wherein positions of the plurality of antenna elements result from juxtaposition of a plurality of mono-band antenna arrays, each mono-band antenna array of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays comprises a plurality of mono-band antenna elements;

wherein a number of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays corresponds to a number of the plurality of working frequency bands of the interlaced multiband antenna array;

wherein the interlaced multiband antenna array employs a single multiband antenna element in positions where mono-band antenna elements of a plurality of the plurality of mono-band antenna arrays come together;

wherein the single multiband antenna element comprises a plurality of electromagnetically-coupled portions which are adapted to interact with each other to establish radio-electric characteristics of the single multiband antenna element with respect to radiation and impedance patterns that are substantially similar in a plurality of the plurality of working frequency bands; and

wherein at least one of the plurality of working frequency bands of the interlaced multiband antenna array is an operating band of a UMTS service.

21. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 20, wherein at least one of the plurality of working frequency bands of the interlaced multiband antenna array is an operating band of a GSM service.

22. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 20, wherein three working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, and 2100 MHz.

23. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 20, wherein the interlaced multiband antenna array is adapted to operate simultaneously on at least three frequency bands.

24. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 20, wherein two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 900 MHz and 1800 MHz.

25. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 20, wherein at least one working frequency band of the plurality of working frequency bands is situated around 1900 MHz.

26. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 20, wherein three working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are two operating bands of two GSM services and an operating band of a UMTS service.

27. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 20, wherein two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 800 MHz and 1900 MHz.

28. The interlaced multiband antenna array of claim 20, wherein a broadband signal distribution network is employed to excite the plurality of antenna elements for at least two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands.

29. An interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array comprising:

a ground plane layer;

a plurality of dual-polarized antenna elements arranged on the ground plane layer;

a first multiband distribution network coupled to the plurality of dual-polarized antenna elements; and

a second multiband distribution network coupled to the plurality of dual-polarized antenna elements;

wherein the second multiband distribution network is independent from the first multiband distribution network;

wherein the dual-polarized antenna elements provide a first polarization and a second polarization, the second polarization being substantially orthogonal to the first polarization;

wherein the interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array is adapted to operate simultaneously on a plurality of working frequency bands;

wherein positions of the plurality of dual-polarized antenna elements result from juxtaposition of a plurality of dual-polarized mono-band antenna arrays, each dual-polarized mono-band antenna array of the plurality of dual-polarized mono-band antenna arrays comprises a plurality of dual-polarized mono-band antenna elements;

wherein a number of the plurality of dual-polarized mono-band antenna arrays corresponds to a number of the plurality of working frequency bands of the interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array;

wherein the interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array employs a single dual-polarized multiband antenna element in positions where dual-polarized mono-band antenna elements of a plurality of the plurality of dual-polarized mono-band antenna arrays come together;

wherein the single dual-polarized multiband antenna element comprises a plurality of electromagnetically-coupled portions which are adapted to interact with each other to establish radio-electric characteristics of the single dual-polarized multiband antenna element with respect to radiation and impedance patterns that are substantially similar in a plurality of the plurality of working frequency bands;

wherein the first multiband distribution network provides excitation to the dual-polarized antenna elements in at least two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands for the first polarization; and

wherein the second multiband distribution network provides excitation to the dual-polarized antenna elements in said at least two working frequency bands for the second polarization.

30. The interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array of claim 29, wherein the first multiband distribution network comprises a first diplexer means;

wherein the second multiband distribution network comprises a second diplexer means; and

wherein the first diplexer means and the second diplexer means separate excitation signals of each working frequency band of said at least two working frequency bands.

31. The interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array of claim 29, further comprising:

a first single-band distribution network coupled to the plurality of dual-polarized antenna elements; and

a second single-band distribution network coupled to the plurality of dual-polarized antenna elements;

wherein the second single-band distribution network is independent from the first single-band distribution network;

wherein the first single-band distribution network provides excitation to the dual-polarized antenna elements in a working frequency band of the plurality of working frequency bands for the first polarization; and

wherein the second single-band distribution network provides excitation to the dual-polarized antenna elements in said working frequency band for the second polarization.

32. The interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array of claim 31, further comprising:

a first set of diplexers to interface the first multiband distribution network and the first single-band distribution network with at least some dual-polarized antenna elements of the plurality of dual-polarized antenna elements; and

a second set of diplexers to interface the second multiband distribution network and the second single-band distribution network with at least some dual-polarized antenna elements of the plurality of dual-polarized antenna elements.

33. The interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array of claim 29, wherein the interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array is adapted to operate simultaneously on at least three frequency bands.

34. The interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array of claim 29, wherein said at least two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are an operating band of a GSM service and an operating band of a UMTS service.

35. The interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array of claim 29, wherein said at least two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 1900 MHz and 2100 MHz.

36. The interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array of claim 29, wherein three working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz.

37. The interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array of claim 29, wherein two working frequency bands of the plurality of working frequency bands are situated around 800 MHz and 1900 MHz.

38. The interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array of claim 29, wherein the first polarization is a linear polarization at approximately +45 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the interlaced dual-polarized multiband antenna array, and wherein the second polarization is a linear polarization at approximately −

45 degrees with respect to said longitudinal axis.