WO2024155484A1 - Antennes de station de base ayant un port d'accès externe pour recevoir des surfaces sélectives en fréquence interchangeables - Google Patents

Antennes de station de base ayant un port d'accès externe pour recevoir des surfaces sélectives en fréquence interchangeables Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024155484A1
WO2024155484A1 PCT/US2024/010969 US2024010969W WO2024155484A1 WO 2024155484 A1 WO2024155484 A1 WO 2024155484A1 US 2024010969 W US2024010969 W US 2024010969W WO 2024155484 A1 WO2024155484 A1 WO 2024155484A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
base station
fss
station antenna
radiating elements
antenna
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2024/010969
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English (en)
Inventor
Ligang WU
Puliang Tang
MeiHua YIN
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Commscope Technologies LLC
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Commscope Technologies LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Commscope Technologies LLC filed Critical Commscope Technologies LLC
Publication of WO2024155484A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024155484A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/42—Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
    • 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
    • H01Q15/00—Devices for reflection, refraction, diffraction or polarisation of waves radiated from an antenna, e.g. quasi-optical devices
    • H01Q15/0006—Devices acting selectively as reflecting surface, as diffracting or as refracting device, e.g. frequency filtering or angular spatial filtering devices
    • H01Q15/0013—Devices acting selectively as reflecting surface, as diffracting or as refracting device, e.g. frequency filtering or angular spatial filtering devices said selective devices working as frequency-selective reflecting surfaces, e.g. FSS, dichroic plates, surfaces being partly transmissive and reflective
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q15/00—Devices for reflection, refraction, diffraction or polarisation of waves radiated from an antenna, e.g. quasi-optical devices
    • H01Q15/0006—Devices acting selectively as reflecting surface, as diffracting or as refracting device, e.g. frequency filtering or angular spatial filtering devices
    • H01Q15/0013—Devices acting selectively as reflecting surface, as diffracting or as refracting device, e.g. frequency filtering or angular spatial filtering devices said selective devices working as frequency-selective reflecting surfaces, e.g. FSS, dichroic plates, surfaces being partly transmissive and reflective
    • H01Q15/0026—Devices acting selectively as reflecting surface, as diffracting or as refracting device, e.g. frequency filtering or angular spatial filtering devices said selective devices working as frequency-selective reflecting surfaces, e.g. FSS, dichroic plates, surfaces being partly transmissive and reflective said selective devices having a stacked geometry or having multiple layers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q15/00—Devices for reflection, refraction, diffraction or polarisation of waves radiated from an antenna, e.g. quasi-optical devices
    • H01Q15/14—Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/24—Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction
    • H01Q21/26—Turnstile or like antennas comprising arrangements of three or more elongated elements disposed radially and symmetrically in a horizontal plane about a common centre

Definitions

  • a geographic area is divided into a series of regions that are referred to as "cells" which are served by respective base stations.
  • the base station may include one or more antennas that are configured to provide two-way radio frequency (“RF") communications with mobile subscribers that are within the cell served by the base station.
  • RF radio frequency
  • each cell is divided into "sectors.”
  • a hexagonally shaped cell is divided into three 120o sectors in the azimuth plane, and each sector is served by one or more base station antennas that have an azimuth Half Power Beamwidth (HPBW) of approximately 65°.
  • HPBW azimuth Half Power Beamwidth
  • the base station antennas are mounted on a tower or other raised structure, with the radiation patterns (also referred to herein as "antenna beams") that are generated by the base station antennas directed outwardly.
  • Base station antennas are often implemented as linear or planar phased arrays of radiating elements.
  • the radios for these beamforming arrays may be integrated into the antenna so that the antenna may perform active beamforming (i.e., the shapes of the antenna beams generated by the antenna may be adaptively changed to improve the performance of the antenna).
  • These beamforming arrays typically operate in higher frequency bands, such as various portions of the 3.3-5.8 GHz frequency band.
  • Antennas having integrated radios that can adjust the Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO amplitude and/or phase of the sub-components of an RF signal that are transmitted through individual radiating elements or small groups thereof are referred to as "active antennas.”
  • Active antennas can generate narrowed beamwidth, high gain, antenna beams and can steer the generated antenna beams in different directions by changing the amplitudes and/or phases of the sub-components of RF signals that are transmitted through the antenna.
  • the passive module may include one or more passive arrays of radiating elements that are configured to generate relatively static antenna beams, such as antenna beams that are configured to cover a 120 degree sector (in the azimuth plane) of a base station antenna.
  • the passive arrays may comprise arrays that operate under second generation (2G), third generation (3G) or fourth generation (4G) cellular standards. These passive arrays are not configured to perform active beamforming operations, although they typically have remote electronic tilt (RET) capabilities which allows the shape of the antenna beam to be changed via electromechanical means in order to change the coverage area of the antenna beam.
  • the active antenna module may include one or more arrays of radiating elements that operate under fifth generation (or later) cellular standards.
  • FIG.1 illustrates an example of a prior art base station antenna 10 that includes a pair of beamforming arrays and associated beamforming radios.
  • the base station antenna 10 is typically mounted with the longitudinal axis L of the antenna 10 extending along a vertical axis (e.g., the longitudinal axis L may be generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the horizon) when the antenna 10 is mounted for normal operation.
  • the front surface of the antenna 10 is mounted opposite the tower or other mounting structure, pointing toward the coverage area for the antenna 10.
  • the antenna 10 includes a radome 11 and a top end cap 20.
  • the antenna 10 also includes a bottom end cap 30 which includes a plurality of connectors 40 mounted therein. As shown, the radome 11, top cap 20 and bottom cap 30 define an external housing 10h for the antenna 10. An antenna assembly is contained within the housing 10h. [0007]
  • the antenna 10 can include one or more radios that are mounted to the rear of the housing 10h. Heat generated in the radio(s) typically passes to a heat sink and spreads to the fins thereof (not shown). Further details of example conventional base station antennas can be found in WO2019/236203 and WO2020/072880, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.
  • Embodiments of the present invention are directed to base station antennas with at least one external access port configured to slidably receive a frequency selective surface (FSS) that is configured to allow (high band) radiating elements to propagate electromagnetic waves therethrough and reflect (lower band signal from lower band) radiating elements in front of the FSS.
  • FSS frequency selective surface
  • the base station antenna can be configured to slidably, serially interchangeably hold different FSS’, each having different unit cell configurations or different arrays of unit cell configurations for reflecting, absorbing and/or propagating electromagnetic waves in different target frequency bands.
  • the at least one access port can extend about at least 50% of a width of and at a top of the base station antenna.
  • the at least one access port can extend about at least 50% of a width of a bottom of the base station antenna. [00012] The at least one access port can extend a sub-length of and about a side of the base station antenna. [00013] A cover can reside over the at least one access port. [00014]
  • the base station antenna can include a passive module and/or a passive antenna assembly and an active antenna module.
  • the active antenna module can be installed at a position corresponding to the frequency selective surface.
  • the frequency selective surface can be provided as first and second frequency selective surfaces, stacked one if front of the other, and can be configured to allow electromagnetic waves emitted by the active module to pass.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a base station antenna that includes: a housing; an external access port provided by the housing; and a frequency selective surface (FSS) configured to be slidably insertable into the external access port.
  • the base station antenna can further include a cover that extends over the external access port.
  • the external access port can extend laterally across a top of the housing.
  • the external access port can extend longitudinally along a sub-length of the base station antenna.
  • the external access port can extend laterally across a bottom of the base station antenna.
  • Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO The FSS can have a length dimension and a width dimension.
  • the external access port can have a width that is greater than the width dimension or a length that is greater than the length dimension.
  • the external access port can be a first external access port and the base station antenna can further include a second external access port that is spaced apart from the first external access port.
  • the first and second external access ports can be parallel to each other.
  • the base station antenna can have internal mounting structures that releasably couple to the FSS.
  • the internal mounting structures can each include a longitudinally extending slot that slidably receives outer edge portions of the FSS.
  • the base station antenna can further include a stop feature integral to or coupled to the mounting structures that is configured to prevent the FSS from advancing further into the housing.
  • the FSS can be a first FSS with a first configuration of unit cells and the base station antenna can be configured to interchangeably and serially receive a second FSS with a second configuration of unit cells to thereby be used in place of the first FSS.
  • the FSS can be a first FSS and the base station antenna can further include a second FSS in front of the first FSS.
  • the second FSS can be a sheet metal grid reflector.
  • the base station antenna can further include an active antenna unit with a radio behind the housing.
  • the second FSS can be stacked in front of the first FSS in a Z direction.
  • the base station antenna can further include a first plurality of radiating elements residing in front of the FSS and a second plurality of radiating elements residing behind the FSS.
  • the first plurality of radiating elements can operate in a first frequency band and the second plurality of radiating elements can operate in a second frequency band.
  • the first plurality of radiating elements can include low band radiating elements that are configured to operate in a first frequency band and the second plurality of radiating elements can include higher band radiating elements that are configured to operate in a second frequency band, the second frequency band encompassing higher frequencies than the first frequency band.
  • the first FSS and the second FSS can be configured to allow RF energy in a defined frequency band to propagate therethrough.
  • the FSS can have a first subset of the array of unit cells configured for blocking and/or reflecting RF energy in a first frequency band while allowing RF energy in a second frequency band to propagate therethrough and the FSS can have a second subset of the array of unit cells configured for blocking and/or reflecting RF energy in the first frequency band and RF energy in a third frequency band, the third frequency band includes frequencies between the first and second frequency bands.
  • the first subset of the array of unit cells can be positioned at an upper portion of the base station antenna and the second subset of the array of unit cells can have unit cells that are to the right side of the first subset of the unit cells and also unit cells that are to the left side of the first subset of the unit cells.
  • the first plurality of radiating elements can include high band radiating elements that operate in at least part of a 3.2-4.1 GHz frequency band, and wherein the second plurality of radiating elements can include radiating elements that operate in at least part of a lower frequency band that the high band radiating elements.
  • the first FSS and the second FSS can be configured to allow RF energy in at least part of a 3.2-4.1 GHz frequency band to propagate therethrough.
  • FIG.1 is a perspective view of a prior art base station antenna.
  • FIG.2A is a back perspective view of an example base station antenna coupled to an active antenna module according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.2A is a back perspective view of an example base station antenna coupled to an active antenna module according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2B is a side, back perspective view of another example base station antenna coupled to an active antenna module according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO [00045]
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example primary reflector that can be provided in a base station antenna, such as the base station antenna shown in FIG.2A or FIG. 2B, according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a grid reflector coupled to a portion of a primary reflector of a base station antenna according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.4B is a front view of the grid reflector and portion of the primary reflector shown in FIG.4A.
  • FIG.5 is a side perspective view of an example base station antenna according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.6 is an enlarged side perspective view of a top portion of the base station antenna shown in FIG.5.
  • FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded view of the top portion of the base station antenna shown in FIG.6.
  • FIG.8 is an enlarged side perspective view of the top end cap of the base station antenna shown in FIG.7.
  • FIG.9A is a side perspective view of a portion of internal components of the base station antenna shown in FIG.5 according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.9B is a schematic front view of a second FSS that is interchangeably held by the base station antenna in place of the first FSS shown in FIG. 9A according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.10A is a side perspective view of internal rails and the FSS shown in FIG. 9A according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.10B is an enlarged side perspective view of a portion of one internal rail and corner of the FSS shown in FIG.10A according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.11 is a top view of the rails and FSS shown in FIG.10A.
  • FIG.10A is a side perspective view of internal rails and the FSS shown in FIG. 9A according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.10B is an enlarged side perspective view of a portion of one internal rail and corner of the FSS shown in FIG.10A according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.11 is a top view of the rails and FSS shown in FIG.10A.
  • FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a portion of internal components of the base station antenna shown in FIG.5 according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.13A is a side perspective view of internal rails and the FSS shown in FIG. 12 according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.13B is an enlarged side perspective view of a portion of one internal rail and corner of the FSS shown in FIG.13A according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.14 is an end view of the rails and FSS shown in FIG.13A. Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO [00061] FIG.
  • FIG. 15 is a side perspective view of a portion of internal components of the base station antenna shown in FIG.5 according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.16A is a side perspective view of internal rails and the FSS shown in FIG. 15 according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.16B is an enlarged side perspective view of a portion of one internal rail and corner of the FSS shown in FIG.16A according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.17 is an end view of the rails and FSS shown in FIG.16A.
  • FIG. 18 is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a base station antenna according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.19 is an enlarged side perspective view of a top portion of the base station antenna shown in FIG.18.
  • FIG.20 is an exploded view of the top portion of the base station antenna shown in FIG.19.
  • FIG. 21A is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a base station antenna with a sidewall with the external access port according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.21B is an enlarged side perspective view of a top portion of the base station antenna shown in FIG.21A.
  • FIG.22 is a schematic illustration of an example internal rail aligned with the sidewall access port and that slidably receives the FSS of FIG 23.
  • FIG.23 is an exploded view of the top portion of the base station antenna shown in FIG.19.
  • FIG. 24 is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a base station antenna according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.25 is an enlarged side perspective view of a top portion of the base station antenna shown in FIG.24.
  • FIG.26 is an exploded view of the top portion of the base station antenna shown in FIG.25.
  • FIG. 27 is a bottom, side perspective view of another embodiment of a base station antenna according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 28 is an enlarged side perspective view of a bottom portion of the base station antenna shown in FIG.27.
  • FIG.29 is an exploded view of components at the bottom portion of the base station antenna shown in FIG.28. Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO [00078]
  • FIGS.30 and 31 are front views of additional embodiments of FSS’ according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.32A is a front, side perspective view of an antenna assembly and example FSS reflector of a base station antenna according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 32B is an enlarged front, side perspective view of a top portion of the antenna assembly and grid reflector shown in FIG.32A.
  • FIGS.33A and 33B are simplified lateral section views of example base station antennas and cooperating active antenna modules according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG.2A illustrates a base station antenna 100 according to certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • the base station antenna 100 will be described using terms that assume that the base station antenna 100 is mounted for use on a tower, pole or other mounting structure with the longitudinal axis L of the base station antenna 100 extending along a vertical axis and the front of the base station antenna 100 mounted opposite the tower, pole or other mounting structure pointing toward the target coverage area for the base station antenna 100 and the rear 100r of the base station antenna 100 facing the tower or other mounting structure.
  • the base station antenna 100 may not always be mounted so that the longitudinal axis L thereof extends along a vertical axis.
  • the base station antenna 100 may be tilted slightly (e.g., less than 10o) with respect to the vertical axis so that the resultant antenna beams formed by the base station antenna 100 each have a small mechanical downtilt.
  • the base station antenna 100 can couple to or include at least one active antenna module 110.
  • active antenna module is used interchangeably with “active antenna unit” and “AAU” and “active antenna” and refers to a cellular communications unit comprising radio circuitry and associated radiating elements.
  • the radio circuitry is capable of electronically adjusting the amplitude and/or phase of the subcomponents of an RF signal that are output to different radiating elements of an array or groups thereof.
  • the active antenna module 110 comprises the radio circuitry and the radiating elements (e.g., a multi-input-multi- output (mMIMO) beamforming antenna array) and may include other components such as filters, a calibration network, an antenna interface signal group (AISG) controller and the like.
  • mMIMO multi-input-multi- output
  • AISG antenna interface signal group
  • the active antenna module 110 can be provided as a single integrated unit or provided as a plurality of stackable units, including, for example, first and second sub-units such as a radio Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO sub-unit (box) with the radio circuitry and an antenna sub-unit (box) with a multi-column array of radiating elements and the first and second sub-units stackably attach together in a front to back direction of the base station antenna 100, with the radiating elements 1195 of an antenna assembly 1190 (FIGS.33A, 33B) closer to the front radome 111f of the housing 100h/radome 111 of the base station antenna 100 than the radio circuitry unit 1120.
  • first and second sub-units such as a radio Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO sub-unit (box) with the radio circuitry and an antenna sub-unit (box) with a multi-column array of radiating elements and the first and second sub-units stackably attach together in a front to back direction
  • the radiating elements 1195 may comprise a separate sub-unit from the radio circuitry and the radiating element sub-unit may be mounted within the base station antenna 100 instead of being external to the base station antenna 100.
  • the base station antenna 100 includes an antenna assembly 190, which can be referred to as a “passive antenna assembly”.
  • the term “passive antenna assembly” refers to an antenna assembly having arrays of radiating elements that are coupled to radios that are external to the antenna, typically remote radio heads that are mounted in close proximity to the base station antenna 100.
  • the arrays of radiating elements included in the passive antenna assembly 190 are configured to form static antenna beams (e.g., antenna beams that are each configured to cover a sector of a base station).
  • the passive antenna assembly 190 can comprise a reflector 170, 214 with radiating elements projecting in front of the reflector and the radiating elements can include one or more linear arrays of low band radiating elements that operate in all or part of the 617-960 MHz frequency band and/or one or more linear arrays of mid-band radiating elements that operate in all or part of the 1427-2690 MHz frequency band.
  • the passive antenna assembly 190 is mounted in the housing 100h of base station antenna 100 and one or more active antenna modules 110 can releasably (detachably) couple (e.g., directly or indirectly attach) to base station antenna 100.
  • the base station antenna 100 has a housing 100h.
  • the housing 100h may be substantially rectangular with a flat rectangular cross-section.
  • the housing 100h may be provided to define at least part of a radome 111 with at least the front side 111f configured as a dielectric cover that allows RF energy to pass through in certain frequency bands.
  • the housing 100h may also be configured to that the rear 100r defines a rear side 111r radome opposite the front side radome 111f.
  • the housing 100h and/or the radome 111 can also comprise two (narrow) sidewalls 100s, 111s facing each other and extending rearwardly between the front side 111f and the rear side 111r.
  • the top 100t of the housing 100h may be sealed in a waterproof manner and may comprise an end cap 120 and the bottom 100b of the housing 100h may be sealed with a separate end cap 130.
  • the front 111f, the sidewalls 111s and typically at least part of the rear side 111r of the radome 111 are substantially transparent to radio frequency (RF) energy within the operating frequency bands of the base Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO station antenna 100 and active antenna module 110.
  • RF radio frequency
  • the radome 111 may be formed of, for example, fiberglass or plastic.
  • the base station antenna 100 can comprise at least one external access port 150 configured to slidably receive a frequency selective surface (“FSS”) 170 (FIG.7, for example).
  • FSS frequency selective surface
  • an active antenna module 110 can reside behind, and may optionally attach to, the base station antenna 100.
  • the base station antenna 100 can comprise a frame 112 and accessory mounting brackets 113, 114.
  • the rear 111r of the housing 100h may be a flat surface extending along a common plane over an entire longitudinal extent thereof or along at least a portion of the longitudinal extent thereof.
  • the rear surface 100r can comprise a recessed and/or stepped segment 102 facing the active antenna module 110.
  • the stepped segment 102 resides closer to a front 100f of the housing than the back wall that is defined by a primary segment of the rear 100r of the housing 100h.
  • the stepped segment 102 can have a lateral and longitudinal extent that is the same or greater than a lateral and longitudinal extent of the active antenna module 110.
  • the rear surface 100r can also comprise a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending rails 118 that engage an adapter mounting bracket 1118 on the active antenna module 110 to attach the active antenna module 110 to the base station antenna housing 100h.
  • other mounting configurations may be used.
  • the rear surface 100r can comprise a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart mounting structure brackets, shown as upper, medial, and lower brackets, 115, 116, 117, respectively, that extend rearwardly from the housing 100h.
  • the mounting structure brackets 115, 116, 117 may be configured to couple to one or more mounting structures such as, for example, a tower, pole or building (not shown). At least two of the mounting structure brackets 115, 116 can also be configured to attach to the frame 112 of the base station antenna arrangement, where used.
  • the frame 112 may extend over a sub-length of a longitudinal extent L of base station antenna 100, where the sub-length is shown in FIG.
  • the frame 112 can comprise a top 112t, a bottom 112b and two opposing long sides 112s that extend between the top 112t and the bottom 112b.
  • the frame 112 can have an open center space 112c extending laterally between the sides 112s and longitudinally between the top 112t and bottom 112b.
  • the frame 112, where used, may be configured so that a variety of different active antenna modules 110 can be mounted to the frame 112 using appropriate accessory mounting brackets 113, 114. As such, a variety of active antenna modules 110 may be Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO interchangeably attached to the same base station antenna 100.
  • a plurality of active antenna modules 110 may be concurrently attached to the same base station antenna 100 at different longitudinal locations using one or more frames 112. Such active antenna modules 110 may have different dimensions, for example, different lengths and/or different widths and/or different thicknesses. [00092] Turning now to FIG. 3, an example primary reflector 214 for a base station antenna 100 is shown.
  • the primary reflector 214 has a first section 214 1 that extends a first longitudinal distance and that merges into a second section 214 2 with spaced apart right and left side segments 214s having a lateral extent d2 that is less than a lateral extent d1 of the first section 214 1 .
  • An open medial region 14 can extend longitudinally and laterally about the second section 214 2 .
  • the open medial region 14 can have a lateral extent d3 that is 60-95% of the lateral extent d1, in some embodiments.
  • the first section 214 1 can have a longitudinal extent that is greater than the second section 214 2 , typically at least 20% greater, such as 30%-80% greater, in some embodiments. [00093] FIGs.
  • the FSS 170 can be fixed in position and can extend part of or a full lateral extent of the base station antenna 100 and at least a part of a length of the base station antenna 100.
  • the FSS 170 can be slidably inserted into the external access port 150 (FIG.7) and into position in the base station antenna 100, which can allow for field installation, changeout and/or retrofit of a target FSS 170.
  • the FSS 170 can be electrically and/or mechanically coupled to the primary reflector 214.
  • the FSS 170 can be provided as a metal grid reflector 170g that can be coplanar with or parallel to the primary reflector 214 and that can be positioned to reside between the right and left sides 214s of the primary reflector in the open medial region 14 (FIG.3).
  • the FSS 170 can be provided as a non-metallic substrate(s) with metal/metallized patches arranged to define an array 171 of unit cells 171u (the “unit cells” can also be interchangeably referred to as “pattern units”) or can be a metal grid 171g providing the array 171 of unit cells 171u.
  • the non-metallic substrate can be provided as a multiple-layer printed circuit board (PCB) which can be rigid, semi-rigid or provided as a flex circuit.
  • PCB printed circuit board
  • the non-metallic Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO substrate can be a plastic, polymer, co-polymer with a metallized surface(s) providing conductive patches.
  • the FSS 170 can be defined by a PCB, such as a PCB having a thickness in a range of about 5 mils to about 30 mils, such as about 5 mil, about 15 mil or about 30 mil.
  • the grid reflector FSS 170g can be provided as a sheet of metal, such as aluminum, with the grid shaped to form the pattern units/unit cells 171u, e.g., the array 171 of unit cells 171u can be etched, punched or laser formed through the sheet metal or otherwise formed.
  • the FSS 170 provides a frequency selective surface and/or substrate that is configured to allow RF energy (electromagnetic waves) to pass through at one or more first defined frequency range and that is configured to reflect RF energy at a different second frequency band.
  • the FSS 170 of the base station antenna 100 can reside behind at least some antenna elements (see radiating elements 222, FIGS.9A, 32B) and can selectively reject some frequency bands and permit other frequency bands to pass therethrough by including the frequency selective surface and/or substrate to operate as a type of “spatial filter”. See, e.g., Ben A. Munk, Frequency Selective Surfaces: Theory and Design, ISBN: 978-0-471-37047-5; DOI:10.1002/0471723770; April 2000, Copyright ⁇ 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.
  • the FSS 170 can comprise one or more of a metamaterial, a suitable RF material or even air (although air may require a more complex assembly).
  • the term “metamaterial” refers to composite electromagnetic (EM) materials. Metamaterials may comprise sub- wavelength periodic microstructures.
  • the FSS 170 can be provided as one or more FSS structures 170 1 , 170 2 (FIGS. 14, 17), stacked in a front to back direction of the base station antenna 100, each having the same or different materials and/or one or more arrays 171 of unit cells 171u with the same or different unit cell configurations.
  • the FSS 170 can include a dielectric substrate that has a dielectric constant in a range of about 2-4, such as about 3.7 and with metal patterns formed on the dielectric substrate. The thickness can vary but thinner materials can provide lower loss.
  • the FSS 170 can be configured to act like a High Pass Filter essentially allowing low band energy to completely reflect (the FSS can act like a sheet of metal) while allowing higher band energy, for example, about 3.5 GHz or greater, to completely pass through.
  • the frequency selective substrate/surface is transparent or invisible to the higher band energy and a suitable out of band rejection response from the FSS Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO can be achieved.
  • the FSS 170 may allow a reduction in filters or even eliminate filter requirements for looking back into the radio 1120 (FIGs.33A, 33B).
  • the FSS 170 may be implemented using a single FSS or two or more closely spaced apart FSS layers 170 1 , 170 2 stacked in a Z direction, either one or both of which can be provided as a multi-layer printed circuit board, with the different layers providing a respective frequency selective surface configured such that electromagnetic waves within a predetermined frequency range cannot propagate through the FSS layers 170 1 , 170 2 , and one or more other predetermined frequency range is allowed to pass therethrough.
  • the stacked FSS layers 170 1 , 170 2 can be spaced apart in the Z direction and can cooperate to provide at least one rejection band and a (wider) pass band.
  • FIGS. 4A and 4B an FSS 170 according to embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.
  • the FSS 170 can be used in the base station antenna 10 shown in FIGs.2A, 2B, for example.
  • the FSS 170 can be provided as a grid reflector 170g with a main body 21 and a frequency selective section 22 provided in the main body 21.
  • At least the main body 21 and/or the primary reflector 214 may be metallic (e.g., formed of aluminum).
  • the frequency selective section 22 may be provided at a position corresponding to the installation position of the active antenna module 110 of the base station antenna 100 and may be configured to allow electromagnetic waves within a predetermined frequency range (for example, high-frequency electromagnetic waves within the range of 2300 to 5000 MHz or a portion thereof, e.g., electromagnetic wave in a 2900-4000 MHz range or 3400-5000 MHz range) to pass.
  • a predetermined frequency range for example, high-frequency electromagnetic waves within the range of 2300 to 5000 MHz or a portion thereof, e.g., electromagnetic wave in a 2900-4000 MHz range or 3400-5000 MHz range
  • the FSS 170 may be composed of an array 171 of a plurality of pattern units or unit cells 171u that are periodically arranged in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the base station antenna.
  • the resonance frequency of the frequency selective section 22 may be configured by selecting or designing the pattern and size of the capacitor structure and the inductor structure of each pattern unit/unit cell 171, as well as the spacing and arrangement of a plurality of pattern units 171 such that the electromagnetic waves within a predetermined frequency range can pass through the frequency selective section 22.
  • the base station antenna 100 can have an external access port 150 on a top portion 100t of the base station antenna 100.
  • the external access port 150 can extend in a width dimension/direction “Wb” of the base station antenna 100 and may extend across at least 50% of a width dimension Wb of the base station Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO antenna 100, more typically the external access port 150 has a width Wp that extends across 80-95% of the width dimension Wb of the base station antenna.
  • the external access port 150 can have a height dimension “h’ that is small relative to the width dimension Wp, typically at least 10 times smaller than the width dimension Wp.
  • the height dimension h corresponds to a Z direction
  • the width dimensions correspond to an X direction
  • the longitudinal direction of the base station antenna corresponds to the Y direction.
  • the width dimension Wp can be slightly larger (10% -20% greater) than the width of the FSS 170.
  • the external access port 150 can be formed in the top end cap 120 as shown.
  • a cover 1150 can be positioned over the external access port 150.
  • the cover 1150 can be configured to pivot to open and close or can be removed to allow access to the external access port 150.
  • the cover 1150 can sealably engage the end cap 120.
  • a seal member 1155 such as an O-ring or gasket, can be positioned about the external access port 150 and the cover 1150 can couple to the end cap 120 and compress against the seal member 1150.
  • a plurality of fixation members 1160 can be used to attach the cover 1150 to the end cap 120 over the access port 150.
  • the fixation members 1160 can be provided as fasteners such as screws, pins, snaps or other suitable components.
  • the cover 1150 can be configured to frictionally engage the end cap 120 without requiring the fixation members (not shown).
  • An end portion 170e of the FSS 170 can be configured to reside outside the external access port 150 as shown in FIG.7.
  • the cover 1150 can be configured with an internal chamber 1151 that projects outward and encloses and slidably receives the end portion 170e of the FSS 170.
  • the chamber 1151 can be rectangular.
  • the exposed end portion 170e can allow a user to grip the FSS 170 to insert or remove the FSS from the base station antenna 100.
  • the FSS 170 can be totally enclosed inside the base station antenna and/or external access port 150 and be configured to allow for field installation/replacement.
  • the FSS 170 can be held in the base station antenna 100 and be configured to cooperate with an internal spring-loaded mechanism to have a “push to open” configuration. A user can push the FSS 170 inward and the spring-loaded mechanism can then push the FSS 170 outward in response, to expose the end portion 170e for release.
  • the base station antenna 100 can include internal mounting and guide features that hold and help align the FSS 170 in proper position in the base station antenna 100.
  • the base station antenna 100 can include longitudinally extending (left and right side) mounting structures 1250 with Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO longitudinally extending slots 1255 that slidably receive the FSS 170.
  • the mounting structures 1250 can comprise rails 1250r that slidably receive the FSS 170.
  • a stop feature 1265 can be provided to define a hard stop for proper positioning of the FSS 170.
  • the stop feature 1265 can be clipped into the slot 1255 or formed into at least one of the mounting structures 1250.
  • the mounting structures 1250 can be couple to the primary reflector 214.
  • the slots 1255 can terminate above the primary reflector 214.
  • Lateral struts 1260 can be coupled to the mounting structures 1250 and can project forwardly of the mounting structures 1250.
  • the mounting structures 1250 can be provided by a closed metal surface or by a metal grid or otherwise configured to provide an isolation surface/wall or an FSS, e.g., metal, metallized, or provided as a frequency selective surface/substrate.
  • FIG. 9A illustrates the base station antenna 100 can have a single FSS 170 which can be field installable and/or replaceable with a different FSS 170.
  • FIG. 9A also shows that feed boards 1200 can be provided for the radiating elements 222 and the feed boards 1200 and radiating elements 222 can reside in front of the FSS 170.
  • FIG.9A illustrates that a first FSS 170a can be held by the base station antenna 100 and FIG.9B illustrates a second FSS 170b that can have a common footprint (about the same width, length and thickness) as the first FSS 170a but with a different unit cell 171u configuration for interchangeable replacement of the first FSS 170a in the base station antenna 100.
  • One of the first and second FSS’ 170a, 170b can be factory installed and the other can be used to replace the factory installed FSS depending on operational requirements in the field.
  • the first FSS 170a can be provided in the base station antenna 100 as a “default” configuration that may correspond to a radio, such as a 3.5GHz 5G band (working band of radiating elements provided by an active antenna unit).
  • the second FSS 170b can be configured to replace the first FSS 170a to change the working band.
  • the base station antenna 100 can be provided without any FSS 170 and a user can insert a desired one of the first and second FSS’ 170a, 170b in the field depending on operational requirements, e.g., 2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz, 3.8 GHz or 4.5 GHz, by way of example.
  • the base station antenna 100 can have a plurality of FSS members 170, at least one of which may be releasably held by the base station antenna.
  • a first internal FSS 170 1 which may be a grid reflector 170g, can reside in front of a second FSS 170 2 .
  • the first FSS 170 1 can be fixed in position while the second FSS 170 2 can be releasably held in the base station antenna 100.
  • a user can either insert the second FSS 170 2 in the field depending on end use requirements of the factory can insert the second FSS 170 2 .
  • the second FSS 170 2 can be interchangeably replaced with a different second FSS 170 2 with a different operational profile, typically with a different array 171 of unit cells 171u.
  • the first FSS 170 1 and/or second FSS 170 2 can allow electromagnetic waves to propagate therethrough at a first frequency band (working band) and reflect lower band electromagnetic waves.
  • the first FSS 170 1 can be fixed in position or releasably replaceable.
  • the first frequency band can comprise 3.5 GHz because this is the primary 5G band in the world.
  • a user can insert a second FSS 170 2 behind the first FSS 170 1 , to either pull down the work frequency band to band 1 (2.6 GHz) or band 1 and band 2 (in a range that includes at least part of 2.3-4.0 GHz).
  • a user can insert a second FSS 170 2 to pull up the work frequency band to band 3 (4.5 GHz) or band 2 and band 3 (3.3-4.9 GHz to thereby change the working band or extend the working band.
  • the first FSS 170 1 or 170a can be provided in the base station antenna 100 as a “default” configuration that may correspond to a 3.5GHz 5G band.
  • the second FSS 170 2 or 170b can be configured to change the working band or extend the working band.
  • FIGS.15-17 another example of the mounting structures 1250’ that couple to the second FSS 170 2 is shown.
  • the mounting structures 1250’ can be integral to the grid reflector 170g.
  • the mounting structures 1250’ can have rails 1250r that have an inner bend segment 1250b that merges into a lip 1251.
  • the lip 1251 is parallel to the first and second FSS’ 170 1 , 170 2 , respectively, and holds the second FSS 170 2 behind the first FSS 170 1 .
  • the stop feature 1265 can be provided on the lip 1251.
  • the base station antenna 100 can comprise a plurality of adjacent external access ports 150, shown as first and second external access ports 150 1 , 150 2 with respective covers 1150. Also, although shown with two covers 1150, a single cover can be configured to enclose both external access ports (not shown). Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO [000127]
  • the single external access port (FIG.7) or the two external access ports 150 1 , 150 2 (FIG.19) can reside closer to the rear 100r of the base station antenna 100 than the front 100f with the front radome 111f. [000128] Turning now to FIGS.
  • the base station antenna 100 can provide the external access port 150 in a sidewall 100s of the base station antenna housing 100h.
  • the length dimension l can be slightly larger (10% -20% greater) than the length of the FSS 170.
  • Internal mounting structures 1250’’ can include a respective longitudinally extending through-slot 1255’ that slidably receives the FSS 170.
  • the external access port 150 can be provided as a plurality of external access ports 150, one above another spaced apart along and residing in a single side 100s or residing side by side, similar to the side- by-side ports 150 discussed with respect to FIG.20. [000129] FIGS.21-23 show the external access port 150 on/in a right sidewall 100s while FIGS.
  • the external access port 150 on/in a left sidewall 100s. Combinations of right and left side external access ports 150 may also be used whether longitudinally aligned or longitudinally offset (one above the other). If offset, they can be used with different radios/active antenna units 110 concurrently coupled to the base station antenna 100. [000130] Turning now to FIGS. 27-29, in some embodiments, the external access port 150 can be provided in a bottom 100b of the base station antenna. The external access port 150 can be arranged behind the RF ports 140. Combinations of top, bottom and/or right and left side external access ports 150 may also be used for placing different FSS’ 170 and such FSS’ 170 can be used with different radios/active antenna units 110.
  • the FSS 170 can be positioned about a 1 ⁇ 4 of an operating wavelength of the high band radiating elements 1195 (FIGS.33A, 33B).
  • operating wavelength refers to the wavelength corresponding to the center frequency of the operating frequency band of a radiating element, e.g., a low band radiating element 222 or a high band radiating element 1195.
  • the spacing between the FSS’ e.g., 170 1 and 170 2
  • DK dielectric constant
  • the first FSS 170 1 and the second FSS 170 2 can reside a distance in a range of 1/10 wavelength to 1/2 wavelength of an operating wavelength in front of the high band radiating elements 1195, in some embodiments.
  • Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO [000134]
  • the FSS 170 can be configured to have a pass band for mMIMO radiating elements 1195 (FIGS. 33A, 33B) comprising at least some frequencies in a range of, for example: 3150-5000MHz and 2200-4200MHz and all the sub-band in between, such as 2490- 2690MHz, 3400-3980MHz, and 2900-4000MHz.
  • the FSS 170 can be configured so that there are different densities of unit cells 171 at different locations.
  • the unit cells 171u may be asymmetric about one or more axes to, for example, improve cross-polarization performance.
  • FIG. 30 illustrates the array of unit cells 171 can be arranged with a greater density of unit cells 171u at left and right side portions, 170r, 170l relative to a medial portion 170m.
  • FIG.30 also illustrates that unit cells 171 located at a medial portion 170m of the grid reflector 170, can have a larger surface area, height and/or width, shown as a common height dimension and different width dimensions and with larger center spaces 172 than unit cells 171u located at the left and right side portions 170r, 170l.
  • FIG.31 illustrates a greater density of unit cells 171u at a medial portion 170m relative to the unit cells 171u at right and/or left side portions 170r, 170l.
  • unit cells 171 located at right and left side portions 170r, 170l can have a larger surface area, height and/or width, shown as a common height and larger width with larger center spaces 172 than unit cells 171 located at the medial portion 170m.
  • the FSS 170 can have an array of unit cells 171 with a first subset of the unit cells 171u tuned for blocking and/or reflecting RF energy in a first frequency band while allowing RF energy in a second frequency band to propagate therethrough and a second subset of the unit cells 171u tuned for blocking and/or reflecting RF energy in the first frequency band and RF energy in a third frequency band.
  • the third frequency band comprises frequencies between the first and second frequency bands.
  • the first subset 171a of the unit cells 171u can be positioned at an upper portion of the base station antenna 100.
  • the second subset 171b of the unit cells 171u can include unit cells that are below and/or to right and left sides of the first subset 171a of the unit cells 171u.
  • the first subset 171a of the unit cells 171 can reside behind low band radiating elements 222 and in front of high band radiating elements 1195 (e.g., a mMIMO array).
  • the second subset 171b of the unit cells 171 can reside behind mid-band 232 radiating elements.
  • the first frequency band can be low band
  • the second frequency band can be a high band frequency band
  • the third frequency band can be mid-band with at least some frequencies between the first and second frequencies.
  • the first subset of the unit cells 171u can be positioned at an upper portion of the base station antenna 100.
  • the second subset 171b of the unit cells 171 can include unit cells that are below and/or to right and left sides of the first subset 171a of the unit cells 171. Some of the unit cells 171u in the second subset 171b of the unit cells 171 can be to the left side and/or right side of the first subset of the unit cells 171a.
  • the first subset 171a of the unit cells 171 can reside behind low band radiating elements 222 and in front of high band radiating elements 1195 (e.g., a mMIMO array).
  • the second subset 171b of the unit cells 171 can reside behind mid-band 232 radiating elements.
  • the FSS 170 can be configured to merge into or attach to longitudinally extending right and left side 214s of (substantially solid) surfaces of the primary reflector 214 at one or more locations, such as along longitudinally extending outer sides. As discussed above, the FSS 170 can be configured to have different unit cell configurations and/or sizes at different locations.
  • the first FSS 170 1 can be configured to act like a High Pass Filter essentially allowing low band energy to completely reflect as the grid is formed by a sheet of metal while allowing higher band energy, for example, about 3.5 GHz or greater, to pass through, typically substantially completely pass through.
  • the first and second FSS’ 170 1 , 170 2 can be transparent or invisible to the higher band energy and can cooperate to provide a suitable out of band rejection response can be achieved.
  • FIGS.32A, 32B an example passive antenna assembly 190 is shown.
  • the FSS 170 can merge into the primary reflector 214 that extends longitudinally and laterally.
  • the primary reflector 214 may have a longitudinal length that is greater than a longitudinal length of the FSS 170.
  • the primary reflector 214 can have a solid reflection surface for antenna elements residing in front of the primary reflector 214 and may reside over operational components 314, such as filters, tilt adjusters and the like.
  • the FSS 170 can reside a distance in a range of 1/8 wavelength to 1 ⁇ 4 wavelength of an operating wavelength behind the low band dipoles 222, in some embodiments.
  • the term "operating wavelength” refers to the wavelength corresponding to the center frequency of the operating frequency band of the radiating element, e.g., a low band radiating element 222.
  • the FSS 170 shown in FIGs. 32A, 32B can be the first FSS 170 1 and can reside a distance in a range of 1/10 wavelength to 1/2 wavelength of an operating wavelength in front of the high band radiating elements 1195, in Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO some embodiments.
  • the first FSS 170 1 can reside a physical distance of 0.25 inches and 2 inches from a ground plane or reflector 1172 that is behind a mMIMO array of radiating elements 1195 of an active antenna module 110 (FIGS.33A, 33B). Other placement positions may be used.
  • the ground plane or reflector 1172 of the active antenna module 110 can be electrically coupled to the grid reflector 170g and/or primary reflector 214 of the base station antenna 100, such as galvanically and/or capacitively coupled. In other embodiments, the ground plane or reflector 1172 of the active antenna module 110 is not electrically coupled to the FSS 170 or the grid reflector 170g and/or primary reflector 214.
  • the FSS 170 can have a longitudinal extent “L” and a lateral extent “W”. The longitudinal extent L can extend a distance that is greater than the lateral extent W. The longitudinal extent L can be less than the lateral extent W.
  • the FSS 170 has a front side 170f that faces the front side 100f of the housing 100h/radome 111.
  • the antenna assembly 190 comprises multiple arrays of radiating elements, typically provided in six columns, with radiating elements that extend forwardly from the front side 170f of the FSS 170, with some columns of radiating elements continuing to extend in front of the primary reflector 214.
  • the arrays of radiating elements of the antenna assembly 190 may comprise radiating elements 222 that are configured to operate in a first frequency band and radiating elements 232 that are configured to operate in a second frequency band.
  • Other arrays of radiating elements may comprise radiating elements that are configured to operate in either the second frequency band or in a third frequency band.
  • the first, second and third frequency bands may be different frequency bands (although potentially overlapping).
  • low band antenna element 222 with dipole arms can reside in front of the FSS 170, typically along right and left side portions 170s of the FSS 170 and/or primary reflector sides 214s.
  • the FSS 170 and the primary reflector 214 can be monolithically formed as a unitary (sheet) metal body in some embodiments.
  • the FSS 170 and the primary reflector 214 can be provided as separate components that are directly or indirectly attached and electrically coupled together to provide a common electrical ground.
  • the FSS 170 and the primary reflector 214 can both be sheet metal of the same or different thicknesses.
  • the FSS 170 can be provided as a printed circuit on a dielectric substrate and the primary reflector 214 can be sheet metal.
  • Some of the radiating elements (discussed below) of the antenna 100 may be mounted to extend forwardly from the main reflector 214, and, if dipole-based radiating elements are used, the dipole radiators of these radiating elements may be mounted approximately 1 ⁇ 4 of a wavelength of the operating frequency for each radiating element forwardly of the main reflector 214.
  • the main reflector 214 may serve as a reflector and as a ground plane for the radiating elements of the base station antenna 100 that are mounted thereon.
  • the passive antenna assembly 190 of the base station antenna 100 can include one or more arrays 220 of low-band radiating elements 222, one or more arrays 230 of first mid-band radiating elements 232, one or more arrays 240 of second mid-band radiating elements 242 and optionally one or more arrays 250 of high-band radiating elements 252.
  • the radiating elements 222, 232, 242, 252, 1195 may each be dual- polarized radiating elements. Further details of radiating elements can be found in WO2019/236203 and WO2020/072880, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.
  • the high band radiating elements can be provided as a mMIMO antenna array and may be provided in the active antenna module 110 rather than in the housing 100h of the base station antenna 100.
  • the low-band radiating elements 222 can be mounted to extend forwardly from the main or primary reflector 214 and the first FSS 170 1 and can be mounted in two columns to form two linear arrays 220 of low-band radiating elements 222. Each low-band linear array 220 may extend along substantially the full length of the antenna 100 in some embodiments.
  • the low-band radiating elements 222 may be configured to transmit and receive signals in a first frequency band.
  • the first frequency band may comprise the 617-960 MHz frequency range or a portion thereof (e.g., the 617-896 MHz frequency band, the 696-960 MHz frequency band, etc.).
  • the low-band linear arrays 220 may or may not be used to transmit and receive signals in the same portion of the first frequency band.
  • the low-band radiating elements 222 in a first linear array 220 may be used to transmit and receive signals in the 700 MHz frequency band and the low-band radiating elements 222 in a second linear array 220 may be used to transmit and receive signals in the 800 MHz frequency band.
  • the low-band radiating elements 222 in both the first and second linear arrays 220-1, 220-2 may be used to transmit and receive signals in the 700 MHz (or 800 MHz) frequency band.
  • the first mid-band radiating elements 232 may likewise be mounted to extend forwardly from the main reflector 214 and/or the first FSS layer 170 1 and may be mounted in Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO columns to form linear arrays 230 of first mid-band radiating elements 232.
  • the linear arrays 230 of mid-band radiating elements 232 may extend along the respective side edges of the first FSS layer 170 1 and/or the main reflector 214.
  • the first mid-band radiating elements 232 may be configured to transmit and receive signals in a second frequency band.
  • the second frequency band may comprise the 1427-2690 MHz frequency range or a portion thereof (e.g., the 1710-2200 MHz frequency band, the 2300-2690 MHz frequency band, etc.).
  • the first mid-band radiating elements 232 are configured to transmit and receive signals in the lower portion of the second frequency band (e.g., some or all of the 1427-2200 MHz frequency band).
  • the linear arrays 230 of first mid- band radiating elements 232 may be configured to transmit and receive signals in the same portion of the second frequency band or in different portions of the second frequency band.
  • Second mid-band radiating elements 242 can be mounted in columns to form linear arrays of second mid-band radiating elements 242.
  • the second mid-band radiating elements 242 may be configured to transmit and receive signals in the second frequency band.
  • the second mid-band radiating elements 242 are configured to transmit and receive signals in an upper portion of the second frequency band (e.g., some, or all, of the 2300-2700 MHz frequency band).
  • the second mid- band radiating elements 242 may have a different design than the first mid-band radiating elements 232.
  • the high-band radiating elements 252 and/or 1195 can be mounted in columns in the upper medial or center portion of antenna 100 to form a multi-column (e.g., four or eight column) array 250 of high-band radiating elements 252 and/or 1195.
  • the high-band radiating elements 1195 may be configured to transmit and receive signals in a third frequency band.
  • the third frequency band may comprise the 3300-4200 MHz frequency range or a portion thereof.
  • the arrays 220 of low-band radiating elements 222, the arrays 230 of first mid-band radiating elements 232, and the arrays of second mid-band radiating elements 242 are all part of the passive antenna assembly 190, while the array 250 of high-band radiating elements 1195 are part of the active antenna module 110. It will be appreciated that the types of arrays included in the passive antenna assembly 190, and/or the active antenna module 110 may be varied in other embodiments. [000161] It will also be appreciated that the number of linear arrays of low-band, mid- band and high-band radiating elements may be varied from what is shown in the figures.
  • the number of linear arrays of each type of radiating elements may be varied from Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO what is shown, some types of linear arrays may be omitted and/or other types of arrays may be added, the number of radiating elements per array may be varied from what is shown, and/or the arrays may be arranged differently.
  • two linear arrays of second mid-band radiating elements 242 may be replaced with four linear arrays of ultra-high-band radiating elements that transmit and receive signals in a 5 GHz frequency band.
  • At least some of the low-band and mid-band radiating elements 222, 232, 242 may each be mounted to extend forwardly of and/or from the first FSS 170 1 or the main reflector 214.
  • Each array 220 of low-band radiating elements 222 may be used to form a pair of antenna beams, namely an antenna beam for each of the two polarizations at which the dual- polarized radiating elements are designed to transmit and receive RF signals.
  • each array 232 of first mid-band radiating elements 232, and each array of second mid-band radiating elements 242 may be configured to form a pair of antenna beams, namely an antenna beam for each of the two polarizations at which the dual-polarized radiating elements are designed to transmit and receive RF signals.
  • Each linear array may be configured to provide service to a sector of a base station.
  • each linear array 220, 230 may be configured to provide coverage to approximately 120o in the azimuth plane so that the base station antenna 100 may act as a sector antenna for a three-sector base station.
  • the linear arrays may be configured to provide coverage over different azimuth beamwidths.
  • radiating elements 222, 232, 242, 252, 1195 can be dual-polarized radiating elements in the depicted embodiments, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments some or all of the dual-polarized radiating elements may be replaced with single- polarized radiating elements. It will also be appreciated that while the radiating elements are illustrated as dipole radiating elements in the depicted embodiment, other types of radiating elements such as, for example, patch radiating elements may be used in other embodiments.
  • Some or all of the radiating elements 222, 232, 242, 252, 1195 may be mounted on feed boards that couple RF signals to and from the individual radiating elements 222, 232, 242, 252, 1195, with one or more radiating elements 222, 232, 242, 252, 1195 mounted on each feed board. Cables (not shown) and/or connectors may be used to connect each feed board to other components of the antenna 100 such as diplexers, phase shifters, calibration boards or the like. [000165] RF connectors or "ports" 140 (FIGS.2A, 28) can be mounted in the bottom end cap 130 that are used to couple RF signals from external remote radio units (not shown) to the arrays of the passive antenna assembly 190.
  • Two RF ports can be provided for each array Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO namely a first RF port 140 that couples first polarization RF signals between the remote radio unit and the array and a second RF port 140 that couples second polarization RF signals between the remote radio unit and the array.
  • the radiating elements 222, 232, 242 can be slant cross-dipole radiating elements
  • the first and second polarizations may be a -45o polarization and a +45o polarization.
  • a phase shifter may be connected to a respective one of the RF ports 140.
  • the phase shifters may be implemented as, for example, wiper arc phase shifters such as the phase shifters disclosed in U.S.
  • a mechanical linkage may be coupled to a RET actuator (not shown).
  • the RET actuator may apply a force to the mechanical linkage which in turn adjusts a moveable element on the phase shifter in order to electronically adjust the downtilt angles of antenna beams that are generated by the one or more of the low-band or mid-band linear arrays.
  • a multi-connector RF port also referred to as a "cluster" connector
  • Suitable cluster connectors are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
  • the radiating elements 220 can be dipole elements configured to operate in some or all the 617-960 MHz frequency band.
  • a feed circuit comprising a hook balun can be provided on the feed stalk 221 (FIG.32B). Further discussions of example antenna elements including antenna elements comprising feed stalks can be found in U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 17/205,122, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.
  • FIGS. 33A, 33B an example active antenna module 110 is shown.
  • the active antenna module 110 can include an RRU (remote radio unit) unit 1120 with radio circuitry.
  • the active antenna module 110 can also include a filter and calibration printed circuit board assembly (not shown) and an antenna assembly 1190 comprising a reflector or ground plane of a printed circuit board 1172 behind radiating elements 1195.
  • the antenna assembly 1190 may also include phase shifters (not shown), which may alternatively be part of the filter and calibration assembly.
  • the radiating elements 1195 can be provided as a massive MIMO array.
  • the RRU unit 1120 is a radio unit that typically includes radio circuitry that converts base station digital transmission to analog RF signals and vice versa.
  • One or more of the radio unit or RRU unit 1120, the antenna assembly 1190 or the filter and calibration assembly can be provided as separate sub-units that are attachable (stackable).
  • the RRU unit Attorney Docket No.9833.6859.WO 1120 and the antenna assembly 1190 can be provided as an integrated unit, optionally also including the calibration assembly 1180. Where configured as sub-units, different sub-units can be provided by OEMs or cellular service providers while still using a common base station antenna housing 100h and passive antenna assembly 190 thereof. In other embodiments, the radio circuitry can be provided with the antenna assembly as a single integrated unit.
  • FIG.33A illustrates that the rear 100r of the base station antenna 100 can have a flat surface and the active antenna assembly 1190 can be configured to face the rear 100r with the radomes 119, 100r therebetween and with the first and second FSS layers 170 1 , 170 2 in front of the radiating elements 1195.
  • FIG. 33B illustrates that the rear 100r of the base station antenna 100 can have recessed segment 102 and sized to receive the radome 119 of the active antenna unit 110, again with the radiating elements 1195 behind and facing the FSS layers 170 1 , 170 2 .
  • the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. [000173] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.

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  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Aerials With Secondary Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne des antennes de station de base comprenant au moins un port d'accès externe pour recevoir au moins un élément configuré pour fournir une surface sélective en fréquence (FSS). Le FSS comporte un réseau de cellules unitaires soit par un motif métallique, soit par une feuille métallique avec des ouvertures à motifs. Différents éléments ayant différents agencements de cellules unitaires fournissant le FSS respectif peuvent être reçus en série de manière interchangeable dans l'au moins un canal d'accès externe. Un réseau d'antennes mMIMO se trouve derrière un arrière de l'au moins un élément avec le FSS et est configuré pour transmettre un signal à travers l'au moins un FSS et hors d'un radôme avant de l'antenne de station de base.
PCT/US2024/010969 2023-01-16 2024-01-10 Antennes de station de base ayant un port d'accès externe pour recevoir des surfaces sélectives en fréquence interchangeables Ceased WO2024155484A1 (fr)

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US202363480039P 2023-01-16 2023-01-16
US63/480,039 2023-01-16

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20210305684A1 (en) * 2020-03-24 2021-09-30 Commscope Technologies Llc Base station antennas having an active antenna module and related devices and methods
US20210320400A1 (en) * 2020-02-26 2021-10-14 Dish Wireless L.L.C. Cellular base station keyed cable connectors
US20220037768A1 (en) * 2018-09-20 2022-02-03 Commscope Technologies Llc Metrocell antennas configured for mounting around utility poles
US20220195687A1 (en) * 2019-04-04 2022-06-23 Yanxu WEN Wall sinking construction method
US20220278462A1 (en) * 2021-02-26 2022-09-01 Commscope Technologies Llc Multi-band antenna and method for tuning multi-band antenna

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20220037768A1 (en) * 2018-09-20 2022-02-03 Commscope Technologies Llc Metrocell antennas configured for mounting around utility poles
US20220195687A1 (en) * 2019-04-04 2022-06-23 Yanxu WEN Wall sinking construction method
US20210320400A1 (en) * 2020-02-26 2021-10-14 Dish Wireless L.L.C. Cellular base station keyed cable connectors
US20210305684A1 (en) * 2020-03-24 2021-09-30 Commscope Technologies Llc Base station antennas having an active antenna module and related devices and methods
US20220278462A1 (en) * 2021-02-26 2022-09-01 Commscope Technologies Llc Multi-band antenna and method for tuning multi-band antenna

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