Abstract:
Beam forming antennas for base station applications are configured as dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) having arrays of dielectric resonator radiating elements (DRRE) therein with dual-polarized radiating properties. Each DRRE includes a dielectric radiating element (DRE) electromagnetically coupled by a resonant cavity to a respective cross-polarized feed network, which is responsive to first and second radio frequency (RF) input feed signals. Each resonant cavity may be configured as a polymer-filled resonant cavity, and each DRE may be configured as a cylindrically-shaped or dome-shaped dielectric radiating element.
Abstract:
A power coupler includes an input port, first and second output ports and an antenna element that is electrically coupled between the first output port and the second output port or that is electrically coupled to an isolation port of the power coupler. The power coupler is configured to split a radio frequency signal incident at the input port and/or to combine radio signals incident at the respective first and second output ports.
Abstract:
Base station antennas (BSAs) include at least one feed signal phase shifter having a variable length signal path therein, which provides an adjustable signal delay in response to mechanical actuation thereof. A thermo-electric actuator is provided to support remote electrical tilt operations by mechanically actuating the variable length signal path in response to an actuator drive signal. The thermo-electric actuator may include thermally-deformable components, such as SMA springs and wax motors.
Abstract:
A MIMO antenna system includes a pair of vertical monopole radiating elements on a forward-facing surface of a substrate, and first and second arrays of horizontal dipole radiating elements, which are arranged as a closed-loop of radiating elements on a rear-facing surface of the substrate. Each radiating arm of each of the horizontal dipole radiating elements in the first and second arrays is electrically coupled by a respective horizontal feed stalk to edges of a ground plane, which is provided on the rear-facing surface of the substrate. First and second feed signal routing networks are provided on the forward-facing surface of the substrate, and are electrically coupled via the substrate to the first and second arrays of radiating elements, respectively.
Abstract:
An antenna includes an elliptical waveguide having a plurality of length-tapered multi-slot arrays of elongate slots therein at respective spaced-apart locations along a length thereof. The plurality of length-tapered multi-slot arrays of elongate slots can include at least first and second length-tapered multi-slot arrays of elongate slots, which are spaced apart from each other along the length of the elliptical waveguide. The first length-tapered multi-slot array of elongate slots can include: (i) a first elongate slot having a first length and a first width, and (ii) a second elongate slot having a second length less than the first length and a second width that may be greater than the first width.
Abstract:
Active antennas are provided that include a housing having a front surface, first and second side surfaces and a rear surface, where the front surface comprises a radome and the first and second side surfaces comprise respective first and second thermally-conducting frame members. These antennas further include at least one radio that is completely mounted within an interior of the housing. Each of the first and second thermally-conducting frame members includes a plurality of outwardly extending fins.
Abstract:
A base station for reducing power consumption in a radio unit. The base station includes at least one processor configured to trigger at least one power reduction step for the radio unit based on at least one data metric for at least the base station dropping below a threshold. The at least one processor is further configured to reduce a number of frequency carriers that the radio unit wirelessly transmits on in response to the at least one power reduction step being triggered.
Abstract:
Digital phase shifters are provided herein. A digital phase shifter includes first and second multi-throw RF switches that are coupled to each other by a plurality of delay lines having different respective lengths. In some embodiments, at least four delay lines couple the first and second multi-throw RF switches to each other. Related methods of operation are also provided.
Abstract:
Active antennas are provided that include a housing having a front surface, first and second side surfaces and a rear surface, where the front surface comprises a radome and the first and second side surfaces comprise respective first and second thermally-conducting frame members. These antennas further include at least one radio that is completely mounted within an interior of the housing. Each of the first and second thermally-conducting frame members includes a plurality of outwardly extending fins.
Abstract:
An adjustable phase shifter includes an RF signal input, an RF signal output, a first delay line, a second delay line and a first electrowetting-activated switch disposed between the RF signal input and the RF signal output.