Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With coupling network or impedance in the leadin
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-25
2001-03-27
Wong, Don (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With coupling network or impedance in the leadin
C343S776000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208313
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to sector antennas, but more particularly to a sector antenna which can make use of various beam forming modules wherein the physical antenna aperture remains the same, while the beam forming module can vary to give the required beam width.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wireless transmission systems that make use of basestation antennas are configured according to the customer and network requirements. In particular, fixed broadband wireless networks which operate within a range of frequencies on different frequency bands can make use of several different types of antennas to enable the transmission and reception of the radio signals between various sites. Although a fixed wireless system may operate on as few as three different frequency bands, a system which may need to operate on a few different polarization scheme may require as many as 60 different antennas.
The problem associated with previous antenna designs is that if a different radiation pattern is required, a new antenna would have to be selected to provide this radiation pattern. Since multiple radiation patterns may be required in a multiband wireless network, several different types of antennas will be required thereby increasing the infrastructure cost of the network. In addition, once the antenna is installed in the field, there is very little flexibility which permit the modification of the radiation pattern without having to change the entire antenna.
For example, within each frequency band an antenna operating within say, a 90, 60, 45, 30 and 15 degree sector may be required. Since the system may require horizontally and vertically polarized antennas, many different styles of antennas are required.
A need therefore exists for a modular antenna which can overcome the problems associated with the prior art antennas. In particular, a need exists for an antenna arrangement which can be modified to change the beamwidth capability of the antenna without having to change the physical antenna aperture portion of the antenna.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modular antenna comprising an antenna panel having a number of antenna radiating elements forming an array, each radiating element having a feed port. A feed network interfaces with the radiating elements to form the modular antenna array. The feed network has a number of output ports, each output port of the feed network being adapted to interface with each feed port of the radiating elements.
The advantages of using the modular antenna of the present invention is that one antenna can be used in many different applications offering different radiation patterns. For volume manufacturing, only one antenna is required to be manufactured. The modular array provides flexibility by enabling a new module to be interfaced with the array to change the radiation pattern without having to disassemble the radio. In another embodiment, an active module can be used to dynamically modify the radiation pattern of the array.
The use of the array of antenna elements of the present invention permits the shaping of the beam into many different types of radiation patterns by adjusting the amplitude weighting of the elements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5412414 (1995-05-01), Ast et al.
patent: 5926147 (1999-07-01), Sehm et al.
patent: 6002370 (1998-08-01), Mckinnon et al.
patent: 6031491 (1998-09-01), Daniel et al.
Frank Peter Michael
Sawchuk Donald E.
Clinger James
Haszko Dennis R.
Nortel Networks Limited
Wong Don
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