Low profile end-fire antenna array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10615515-B2
Application number	US-201715683737-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2017
Priority date	Aug 22, 2017
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

Low-profile end-fire antenna systems to provide additional throughput in areas of need with minimal structural and aesthetic impact. The system can include one or more low-profile end-fire antennas mounted to an exterior surface (e.g., a roof or parapet) of a building, parking deck, exiting cell tower, water tower, or other suitable structure. Additional electronics can be remotely mounted to maintain the low profile of the system. The system can be color-matched, or otherwise camouflaged, to maintain building aesthetics. The low-profile end-fire antenna can be mounted on a positioning stand to enable the elevation and/or azimuth of the system to be adjusted. The low profile of the antennas can reduce wind loading and enable the system to be mounted to existing structures without reinforcement, or other modification, to the structure. The orientation of the system relative to observers in many locations (e.g., on the ground) renders the system all but invisible.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A low-profile end-fire antenna system comprising:
a case;
a ground plane, detachably coupled to the case, with a lateral axis and a longitudinal axis;
a plurality of radiating elements disposed on the ground plane parallel to the lateral axis at a predetermined spacing to cause a direction of maximum radiation parallel to the longitudinal axis;
a phase shifter, in communication with the plurality of radiating elements, to cause the plurality of radiating elements to radiate in an alternating out-of-phase pattern;
a radome detachably coupled to the case in an overlying manner to the ground plane and sized and shaped to shed water and debris; and
one or more radio frequency (RF) connectors to connect the system to an RF transceiver.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radome is pyramid shaped to shed water and debris off the system.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein a front face of the pyramid, disposed in the direction of maximum radiation, includes a lens to steer the direction of maximum radiation in a direction that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a duplexer, in communication with the one or more RF connectors, to filter out one or more frequencies and mounted remotely to the low-profile end-fire antenna to reduce a profile of the low-profile end-fire antenna when compared to an antenna with an integral duplexer.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the phase shifter is mounted remotely to the low-profile end-fire antenna to reduce a profile of the low-profile end-fire antenna when compared to an antenna with an integral phase shifter.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ground plane is disposed parallel to a bottom surface of the case.

7. A system comprising:
a low-profile end-fire antenna comprising:
a case;
a ground plane, detachably coupled to the case, with a lateral axis and a longitudinal axis;
a plurality of radiating elements disposed on the ground plane parallel to the lateral axis at a predetermined spacing to cause a direction of maximum radiation parallel to the longitudinal axis;
a phase shifter, in communication with the plurality of radiating elements, to cause the plurality of radiating elements to radiate in an alternating out-of-phase pattern;
a radome detachably coupled to the case in an overlying manner to the ground plane and sized and shaped to shed water and debris; and
one or more radio frequency (RF) connectors to connect the system to an RF transceiver; and

a positioning stand to support and aim the low-profile end-fire antenna, the positioning stand comprising:
a tilting mechanism to change an elevation of the low-profile end-fire antenna; and
a front support pivotally coupled to a mounting location to enable an azimuth of the low-profile end-fire antenna to be changed.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a controller, in communication with at least the tilting mechanism, to enable the elevation of the low-profile end-fire antenna to be changed, from a first position to a second position, from a location that is remote to the low-profile end-fire antenna.

9. The system of claim 8 ,
wherein the system further comprises:
a duplexer in communication with the low-profile end-fire antenna to filter out at least one unwanted frequency; and

wherein the positioning stand further comprises:
a weather-resistant enclosure to house at least the controller, duplexer, and phase shifter.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the tilting mechanism comprises:
a screw jack detachably coupled to a first end of the low-profile end-fire antenna; and
a first motor, detachably coupled to the screw jack, the first motor to turn the screw jack in a first direction and a second direction;
wherein turning the screw jack in the first direction causes the first end of the low-profile end-fire antenna to raise; and
wherein turning the screw jack in the second direction causes the first end of the low-profile end-fire antenna to lower.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the tilting mechanism further comprises:
a caster detachably coupled to the tilting mechanism to enable a first end of the low-profile end-fire antenna to traverse between a first location and a second location about the front support; and
a second motor coupled to a wheel of the caster to turn the wheel in a first direction and a second direction;
wherein turning the wheel in the first direction moves the first end of the low-profile end-fire antenna towards the first location; and
wherein turning the wheel in the second direction moves the first end of the low-profile end-fire antenna towards the second location.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a controller, in communication with at least the first motor and the second motor, to enable the elevation and azimuth of the low-profile end-fire antenna to be changed, from a from a first position to a second position, from a location that is remote to the low-profile end-fire antenna.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller changes at least one of the azimuth or the elevation of the low-profile end-fire antenna based on a time of day.

14. The system of claim 7 , wherein the radome is pyramid shaped to shed water and debris off the system.

Assignees

• T Mobile Usa Inc

Inventors

• Au Chad

Classifications

• H01Q9/30

  with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole (H01Q9/44 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q3/2617

  Array of identical elements · CPC title

• H01Q3/08

  for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation · CPC title

• H01Q1/1228

  on a boom · CPC title

• H01Q3/06

  over a restricted angle · CPC title