Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
  • H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system 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
  • H01Q3/30—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system 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 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array
  • H01Q3/32—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system 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 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array by mechanical means
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
  • H01P1/00—Auxiliary devices
  • H01P1/18—Phase-shifters
  • H01P1/184—Strip line phase-shifters
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
  • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
  • H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
  • H01Q1/241—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM
  • H01Q1/246—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for base stations
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
  • H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system 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
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
  • H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system 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
  • H01Q3/30—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system 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 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an antenna with variable electrical depointing comprising at least one phase-shifting element.
• radiofrequency communication systems of the mobile telephone type, the signal representative of the voice of a user is propagated from the antenna of the mobile telephone to a base station. This signal is then routed through a wired network, for example, to another base station, which transmits the signal to the correspondent.
• Each base station also called a relay antenna, covers a portion of territory called "cell”.
• a coverage area therefore consists of a set of cells forming a mesh base station network. In these networks, it is possible to seek to limit the radio range of an antenna by deviating down its maximum radiation so as not to interfere with the adjacent cells.
• This deflection of the maximum radiation is obtained by adjusting in a known manner the relative amplitudes and the relative phases between the electrical signals supplying each radiating element of an antenna, which comprises at least two radiating elements superimposed vertically one above the other.
• the values imposed on these amplitudes and phases advantageously make it possible to impose the direction of the maximum of radiation, to attenuate undesirable secondary lobes and to fill in radiation holes in certain directions.
• the creation of such antennas with variable repointing has been the subject of numerous advances in recent years.
• the adjustment of the relative phases of the electrical signals is obtained by the use of bulky and expensive mechanical elements.
• These elements include, for example, sliding parts having the shape of a circular arc, connected to electric power cables, the rotation of one of the parts making it possible to vary the phase of the electric signal.
• These mechanical elements increase the weight of the base stations.
• the volume of these elements generally requires them to also be placed on the face of the support receiving the radiating elements, this face then not being able to be completely metallized, or else requires increasing the thickness of the antenna to accommodate these elements behind this face receiving the radiating elements.
• the base station antennas of cellular networks are today very often with double polarization, in general + 45 °.
• the source part comprising the radiating elements is either doubled, with at least two radiating elements for each polarization, or it comprises radiating elements which are themselves double polarized.
• each radiating element has two ports, one per polarization.
• the lobe formation circuit which comprises radio circuits intended to distribute the energy between the access of the antenna and the different radiating elements so that the network association of these elements forms the lobe of desired radiation, is doubled to keep the insulation between the signals of each polarization.
• the objective of the present invention is to propose an antenna with variable electrical depointing comprising at least one phase-shifting element, simple in its design and in its operating mode, inexpensive and allowing an "all printed circuit" realization of the antenna, c that is to say that the lobe formation circuit is produced from supply lines and dividers etched on such a printed circuit.
• phase-shifting elements also make it possible, by a particularly compact arrangement, to group on the same face of the printed circuit both the phase-shifting elements and the supply circuits of the elementary sources, including in the case of a dual-polarization antenna, which keeps the other side of the fully metallized printed circuit. It is the most favorable situation to realize the source part comprising the radiating elements.
• This arrangement of phase-shifting elements favors the association of a phase-shifting element per radiating element, which makes the control of the radiation diagram and of its parameters important.
• Another objective of the invention is to simultaneously control all the phase shifting elements by means of a single control while respecting the law of relative phase variation between the elementary antennas. This unique command thus allows easy adjustment of the deflection angle of the radiation.
• This setting can then be adjusted either manually at the level of the antenna itself, or motorized by incorporating a motor at the level of the antenna and by adding to it means for measuring the position.
• the signals for controlling the motorization can come either from equipment installed at the base station equipped with the antenna, or from a remote management center using one of the many means of existing telecommunications to transmit the information necessary for piloting the engine.
• the invention relates to an antenna having a radiation diagram having at least one main lobe axis defining an angle of inclination relative to the earth's surface and means of phase variation for modifying the angle of inclination.
• which comprise at least one phase shifting element, having an input transmission line and an output transmission line, the transmission lines being printed lines, a means of mobile radio coupling of the input and output transmission lines, the coupling means comprising a first and a second arm, an insulator placed between each of the transmission lines and the corresponding arm of the mobile radio coupling means, the mobile radio coupling means comprising a substrate having a surface on which are placed the first and second arm, the surface of the substrate comprising the first and second arms being placed opposite the surface of the c main printed circuit, the input and output transmission lines being parallel and the mobile radio coupling means comprising a coupling circuit having the shape substantially of a U, the mobile radio coupling means being arranged on a plate a phase shifting carriage, the antenna comprising an elongated support having a longitudinal main main
• the phase variation means include means for moving each radio coupling means of each phase shifting element and a single control means for the moving means, the moving means for each coupling means radioelectric of each phase shifting element and the control means being arranged so that a movement of the control means along the main longitudinal axis of the support causes, by means of the displacement means, a transverse displacement relative to the main longitudinal axis of the support of each of the mobile radio coupling means simultaneously.
• the present invention also relates to the characteristics which will emerge during the description which follows and which will have to be considered in isolation or according to all their technically possible combinations: - the support is a printed circuit whose front face is metallized, the lobe formation circuit being placed on the rear face of the printed circuit, - each of the phase variation means is connected to a single radiating element, - the phase variation means each comprise a first phase-shifting element, a door entry and an exit door, the entry door being constituted by the entry transmission line of the first phase-shifting element and the exit door being constituted by the output transmission line of the first phase-shifting element, the door d entry being connected to a supply line and the exit door being connected to the radiating element corresponding ant, * - - at least one of the phase variation means further comprises a second phase-shifting element, said first and second phase-shifting elements being connected in series by the output transmission line of the first phase-shifting element and the transmission line d input of the second phase-shifting element, the
• the actuation device further comprises an electronic management unit for processing the position signals of the actuation rod, the electronic unit comprising an interface, wired or wireless, for receiving control instructions and / or transmitting the position of the actuating rod
• - each displacement means comprises guide means making it possible to hold the radio coupling means against the printed circuit
• ⁇ - - the guide means comprise a bottom and side walls, the bottom comprising a recess forming a guide rail and means for fixing the guide means on the printed circuit
• - each displacement means comprises a guide pin having at one end an extension connected to the radio coupling means and at the other end a stud, engaged in an oblique slot made in the second movable plate of the control means
• - the antenna comprises two circuits its lobe formation so as to present a radiation diagram comprising two lobes having different polarizations
• - the radiating elements are radiating elements with double polarization.
• FIG. 1 shows a phase-shifting element 1.
• This phase-shifting element 1 is based on a printed line whose variable length causes a variation in the electrical path traveled by an electrical signal between the signal at the output of the line and this same signal at the entrance to the transmission line. This variation of the electrical path thus causes a variable delay in the transmission of the signal and therefore a variable phase shift between the signal at the output of the line and this same signal at the input of the transmission line.
• This phase shifting element 1 comprises an input transmission line 2 and an output transmission line 3, said transmission lines 2, 3 being lines printed on the surface of a main printed circuit 4. These lines are therefore fixed by relative to the main printed circuit 4.
• transmission lines 2, 3 which will generally be taken equal to 50 ohms, is determined by the width of the ribbon etched on the main printed circuit 4 to make the printed line 2, 3, depending on the thickness of the printed circuit 4 and the dielectric constant of its material according to rules well known to those skilled in the art, it being understood that the opposite face of the printed circuit is metallic.
• These transmission lines 2, 3 are supplemented by a mobile radio coupling means 5 of the input 2 and output 3 transmission lines, said coupling means comprising a first and a second arm 6, 7.
• the lines of input and output transmission 2, 3 are parallel and the mobile radio coupling means 5 comprises a coupling circuit having the shape substantially of a U. This coupling circuit preferably comprises a printed line.
• the first and second parallel sides of the U then respectively form the first 6 and second arms 7 of the mobile radio coupling means 5.
• the electrical path has a range of variation between a first position where the first 6 and second 7 arms overlap respectively and entirely the input 2 and output 3 transmission lines thus defining a minimum electrical path, and a second position where the first 6 and second 7 arms are respectively placed in the extension of the input 2 and output 3 transmission lines defining thus a maximum electrical path.
• phase shifting element 1 This defines the maximum spacing that the coupling means 5 can have with respect to the input 2 and output 3 transmission lines, and therefore the maximum phase difference that can be obtained.
• the desired phase variation dynamic is obtained by adjusting the lengths on the one hand of the input 2 and output 3 transmission lines, and on the other hand, the lengths of the first and second arms 6, 7 of the radio coupling means 5. If desired, a greater dynamic than the space available to move the mobile radio coupling means 5 allows, at least two phase-shifting elements 1 can to be coupled.
• the distance separating the input 2 and output 3 transmission lines is preferably made minimal to maintain a compact arrangement.
• an insulator 8 of small thickness between the mobile radio coupling means 5 and the transmission lines 2, 3 of the phase shifter element 1.
• the electrical continuity between the mobile radio coupling means 5 and the lines transmission 2, 3 is no longer ensured by a metal-metal contact, but by radioelectric coupling (capacitive effect) between the parts of lines which are superimposed one on the other.
• This insulator 8 must have a very small thickness to achieve the best possible coupling. It can be made from a thin sheet of insulating material, for example, made of nylon, teflon, or the like. Another embodiment of this insulator is to cover one of the printed circuits, preferably the mobile radio coupling means 5, with a layer of varnish according to the usual techniques for varnishing printed circuits.
• the mobile radio coupling means 5 is produced by etching on a substrate, for example a printed circuit, which ensures mechanical resistance of the first and second arms 6, 7.
• This surface of the substrate "on which is engraved with the mobile radio coupling means 5, is placed opposite the surface of the main printed circuit 4.
• the invention relates to an antenna 9 having a radiation diagram having at least one main lobe axis defining an angle of inclination relative to the earth's surface.
• This antenna 9 is entirely housed in a cover 10, a radome, in the form of a sheath, said cover being closed at its ends by the upper plug 11 and the lower plug 12.
• the antenna 9 is with double crossed polarization and it therefore has two accesses and the two corresponding connectors 13 and 14 are fixed on the lower plug 12.
• the antenna 9 comprises a support 15 of elongated shape having a main longitudinal axis, a front face 16 and a rear face 17, as well as at least two radiating elements 18 placed along the front face 16 of the support. Generally, when the antenna 9 is in place, this longitudinal main axis is vertical.
• the antenna includes also at least one lobe formation circuit 19 disposed on the support
• the lobe formation circuit 19 comprises phase variation means 20 for modifying the angle of inclination of the main lobe axis, in other words the maximum radiation from the antenna 9.
• These means for variation of phase 20 include at least one phase shifting element 1 as described above.
• Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the antenna according to a particular embodiment.
• the cover 10 of the antenna 9 is partially released to make visible the radiating elements 18 placed along the front face 16 of the longitudinal support 15.
• the support 15 is a printed circuit whose front face 16 is metallized, the formation circuit of lobe 19 being placed on the rear face of the printed circuit 1. This embodiment of the antenna object of FIG.
• FIG. 2 comprises twelve radiating elements 18, but the principle described here also applies to antennas 9 having more or less elements, the minimum being 2 to ensure electrical depointing by action on the signal phase.
• Figure 3 shows the same antenna as in Figure 2 but viewed from the rear.
• An upper plate 21 and a lower plate 22 are used for fixing the antenna to a support structure for its operational use.
• the longitudinal support 15 making the entire height of the antenna 9 is a main printed circuit, said support being made in one piece or in several pieces.
• FIG. 4 presents a partial and exploded view of the lobe formation circuits 19 and of the printed circuit in the case of a dual polarization antenna.
• a first group 23 includes the parallel input and output transmission lines
• phase-shifting element 1 Opposite this first group 23, at the same level of the printed circuit, there is a second group 24 comprising the parallel transmission lines 2, 3 of a second phase-shifting element 1, which corresponds to the lobe formation circuit 19 used for the formation of the second polarization lobe. All along the printed circuit, a longitudinal half, left for example, corresponds to the lobe formation circuit 19 for one of the accesses of polarization, and the other longitudinal half, symmetrical to the first, corresponds to the same functions for the other polarization.
• Each of the phase variation means 20 is preferably connected to a single radiating element 18.
• phase variation means 20 may each comprise two phase-shifting elements 1, an entry door 25 and an exit door 26.
• the phase-shifting elements 1 are connected in series by the output transmission line 3 of the first phase-shifting element 1 and the input transmission line 2 of the second phase-shifting element 1
• the input door 25 is then constituted by the input transmission line of the first phase-shifting element 1
• the output door 26 is constituted by the output transmission line of the second phase-shifting element 1, said input door 25 being connected to a supply line 27 and said outlet door 26 being connected to the corresponding radiating element 18.
• the supply line 27 constitutes a part of the lobe formation circuit 19.
• This line 27 comprises sections of line of different characteristic impedance, and T-junction for supplying, for example, four successive radiating elements with the relative amplitudes desired.
• This line 27 is itself connected to the rest of the lobe formation circuit by a coaxial cable, just like the other groups of four radiating elements of the printed circuit.
• the supply line 27 could also supply a group of six or more radiating elements.
• This embodiment of the lobe formation circuit 19 by a mixed technique using coaxial cables and supply lines 27 as described above makes it possible to limit the overall losses of the lobe formation circuit 19 because a coaxial cable may have less losses per meter than a printed line, even if the printed circuit uses a very good dielectric.
• the phase variation means 20 comprise displacement means 28 of each mobile radio coupling means 5 of each phase shifter element 1 and a single control means 29 of the displacement means 28.
• the displacement means 28 of each radio coupling means 5 and the control means 29 are arranged so that a movement of the control means 29 along the main longitudinal axis of the support 15 causes, through the displacement means 28, a transverse displacement relative to the longitudinal main axis of the support 15 of each of the mobile radio coupling means 5 simultaneously.
• Each displacement means 28 comprises guide means
• These guide means 30 make it possible to hold the radioelectric coupling means 5 against the printed circuit forming the support 15.
• These guide means 30 comprise a bottom 31 and side walls 32, said bottom 31 comprising a recess 33 forming a guide rail and means for fix said guide means 30 on the printed circuit.
• These include pins 34 for clipping the guide means 30 into holes made for this purpose in the printed circuit, which provides a simple and effective means of assembly.
• Each of the guide means 30 is made for example of injected plastic.
• the mobile radio coupling means 5 are constituted by mobile phase shifting carriages 35 which, after fixing of the guide means 30 are trapped between the bottom 31 of the guide means 30 and the printed circuit.
• Each phase shifting carriage 35 comprises, for example, a plate to which is fixed a radio coupling circuit advantageously produced on a printed circuit.
• the printed circuit can be glued to said plate or fixed by a double-sided adhesive.
• the movement of movement of each of the phase shifting carriages 35 is guided by the guide means 30 which only allow a transverse movement of the phase shifting carriages 35 relative to the main longitudinal axis of the support 15.
• the plates of the phase shifting carriages 35 include an orifice 36 through which guide pins 37 come to drive them in displacement. These guide pins 37 have at one end an extension fixed to the orifice 36 and at the other end a stud 38.
• the control means 29 comprises a first fixed plate 39, connected to the support 15 opposite from the rear face 17 of the support and spaced from the latter, and a second plate 40 mounted in the first plate 39 in a sliding manner along the main longitudinal axis of the support 15.
• This second plate 40 comprises means cooperating with the displacement means 28 of each of the phase shifting elements 1 for transversely moving each of the mobile phase shifting carriages 35 and therefore each radio coupling means 5 during movement of the second plate 40 along the main longitudinal axis of the support 15.
• pulleys 41 are placed on some of the pins 38. The second plate 40 is then placed on these pulleys 41.
• Each stud 38 is engaged in an oblique slot 42 formed in the second movable plate 40 of the control means 29.
• each of the oblique slots 42 is adjusted so that the relative movements between the guide pins 37 correspond to the relative variations of the phase shifts between the different radiating elements 18 necessary to spot the radiation lobe of the antenna 9.
• the different inclinations of the oblique slots 42 formed in the second movable plate 40 advantageously allow great latitude in the adjustment of the relative movements of the phase shifting elements.
• the first and second plates are for example metal sheets each formed in one piece. Obviously, these plates could also consist of several elements secured to each other, for example by means of rods.
• These guide pins 37 are themselves guided by a slot 43 made in the first plate 39 which is fixed to the printed circuit.
• This slot 43 comprises a cylindrical recess 44 which makes it possible to engage the guide pins 37 in said slot 44 at the level of a notch made in these pins.
• Each guide pin 37 is driven by the corresponding oblique slot 42 formed in the second movable plate 40 in which is engaged the pin 38 of the guide pin 37.
• the second plate 40 also includes at one of its ends an actuating rod 45 can be connected to an actuating device.
• This actuating rod 45 is, for example, a threaded rod.
• the actuating device is either manual by action on the actuating rod 45 made accessible from outside the antenna, or advantageously comprises a motor and positioning means for determining the position of the rod, for example, a position sensor, said positioning means transmitting position signals of the actuating rod.
• this actuation device 45 also comprises an electronic management unit for processing the position signals of the actuation rod 45 emitted by the positioning means.
• this electronic unit When this electronic unit is placed in the antenna with variable depointing, it includes an interface, wired or wireless, to receive the control instructions and / or transmit the position of the rod or of operating status signals and alarm.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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• 2004
  • 2004-02-25 FR FR0450352A patent/FR2866756B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-05-20 US US10/849,379 patent/US7068236B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2005
  • 2005-02-25 ES ES05728084T patent/ES2708836T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2005-02-25 EP EP05728084.4A patent/EP1723693B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2005-02-25 DE DE112005000436.8T patent/DE112005000436B4/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2005-02-25 WO PCT/FR2005/050129 patent/WO2005086286A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2005-02-25 DE DE112005003860.2T patent/DE112005003860B4/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

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