Antenna array assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10211525-B2
Application number	US-201715705008-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2017
Priority date	Mar 8, 2016
Publication date	Feb 19, 2019
Grant date	Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

An antenna array assembly comprises at least a first and second antenna element, each comprising at least one radiator element in a substantially parallel relationship to a respective ground plate, and an isolator bar disposed between the respective ground plates of the first and second antenna elements, the isolator bar being elongate having a cross-section comprising a T shape, the cross-section being across a long axis. The isolator bar comprises a support bar in contact with the ground plates forming the stem of the T shape, and a cross piece forming the top of the T shape. The cross piece of the isolator bar has a width in the cross-section of at least a quarter of a wavelength at an operating frequency of the antenna array, whereby to provide radio frequency isolation between the first and second antenna elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An antenna array assembly, comprising:
at least a first and second antenna element, each antenna element comprising at least one patch radiator element which is substantially planar, each patch radiator element being disposed to overlie a respective ground plate in a substantially parallel spaced relationship to the respective ground plate, and each patch radiator element being disposed with the corresponding plane of each planar patch radiator element in the same orientation; and
an isolator bar disposed between the respective ground plates of the first and second antenna elements, the isolator bar being elongate having a cross-section comprising a T shape, the cross-section being in a plane perpendicular to a long axis, the isolator bar comprising:
a support bar in contact with the ground plates of the first and second antenna elements, the support bar forming the stem of the T shape; and
a substantially planar cross piece forming the top of the T shape and being disposed in a parallel relationship with the planes of the ground plates of the first and second antenna elements on the same side of the ground plates as the patch radiator elements; and
radiation absorbent material disposed on the cross-piece of the isolator bar.

2. The antenna array assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the substantially planar cross piece of the isolator bar in a direction perpendicular to the long axis of the isolator bar is substantially half a wavelength at an operating frequency of the antenna array assembly.

3. The antenna array assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the isolator bar is composed of metal.

4. The antenna array assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the isolator bar comprises a non-conductive material having a conductive coating.

5. The antenna array assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each antenna element comprises:
an array of conductive patch radiator elements disposed along an axis of the antenna element, the antenna elements being disposed such that the axes of the antenna elements along which the conductive patch radiator elements are disposed are parallel,
the support bar of the isolator bar being disposed in a parallel relationship to the axes of the antenna elements along which the conductive patch radiator elements are disposed.

6. The antenna array assembly according to claim 5 , wherein each patch radiator element of an antenna element is formed as a metallic layer on a respective first dielectric film, and the respective ground plate is arranged to support the respective first dielectric film.

7. The antenna array assembly according to claim 6 , wherein each antenna element comprises:
a respective second dielectric film, parallel to the respective first dielectric film, carrying an array of conductive patch director elements disposed along the first axis of the antenna element column assembly, each director element aligned with a respective patch radiator element; and
a support frame arranged to support the respective second dielectric film in a spaced relationship with respect to the respective first dielectric film, wherein the support frame has an electrically conductive surface.

8. The antenna array assembly according to claim 7 , comprising a plurality of director wall frames, each director wall frame being disposed to surround a respective director element and to extend in a direction away from the respective ground plate, wherein each director wall frame has an electrically conductive surface.

9. The antenna array assembly according to claim 8 , wherein each director wall frame extends further from the respective ground plate than does the cross bar of the isolator bar.

10. The antenna array assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the radiation absorbent material is formed as a rectangular block having a width less than that of the cross-piece and a depth less than half the width of the cross piece.

11. The antenna array assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the radiation absorbent material comprises polyurethane foam and carbon.

12. A radio terminal comprising the antenna array assembly according to claim 1 .

13. The radio terminal according to claim 12 , wherein the radio terminal comprises a radio transceiver having a printed circuit board mounted on the opposite face of the ground plates to the patch radiator elements, the radio transceiver being connected to the patch radiator elements.

Assignees

• Cambium Networks Ltd

Inventors

• Clark Paul
• Wilkins Adam
• Morrell Carl
• King Nigel Jonathan Richard

Classifications

• H01Q21/08

  the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path {(waveguide fed H01Q21/0037)} · CPC title

• H01Q1/521

  reducing the coupling between adjacent antennas · CPC title

• H01Q1/523 Primary

  between antennas of an array · CPC title

• H01Q21/065

  Patch antenna array · CPC title

• H01Q9/0414

  in a stacked or folded configuration · CPC title