Base station antennas having f-style arrays that generate antenna beams having narrowed azimuth beamwidths
Base station antennas include first and second RF ports, a first array of radiating elements that includes a first column of radiating elements, a first additional radiating element and a second additional radiating element, where each of the radiating elements in the first array of radiating elements are coupled to the first RF port and not to the second RF port, and a second array of radiating elements that includes a second column of radiating elements, a third additional radiating element and a fourth additional radiating element, where each of the radiating elements in the second array of radiating elements are coupled to the second RF port and not to the first RF port. The first through fourth additional radiating elements may form a third column of radiating elements that is positioned between the first column of radiating elements and the second column of radiating elements.
1 . A base station antenna, comprising:
a reflector;
a first radio frequency (“RF”) port;
a second RF port;
a first array of radiating elements that includes a first column of radiating elements that extend forwardly from the reflector, a first additional radiating element and a second additional radiating element, where each of the radiating elements in the first array of radiating elements are coupled to the first RF port and not to the second RF port; and
a second array of radiating elements that includes a second column of radiating elements, a third additional radiating element and a fourth additional radiating element, where each of the radiating elements in the second array of radiating elements are coupled to the second RF port and not to the first RF port;
wherein the first through fourth additional radiating elements form a third column of radiating elements that is positioned between the first column of radiating elements and the second column of radiating elements.
2 . The base station antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first array of radiating elements and the second array of radiating elements each comprise an F-style array of radiating elements.
3 . The base station antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first additional radiating element is fed 180° out-of-phase with respect to a first radiating element in the first column of radiating elements that is closest to the first additional radiating element.
4 . The base station antenna of claim 3 , wherein the second additional radiating element is fed 180° out-of-phase with respect to a second radiating element in the first column of radiating elements that is closest to the second additional radiating element.
5 . The base station antenna of claim 1 , wherein a first radiating element in the first column of radiating elements that is closest to the first additional radiating element is positioned at a top end of the first column of radiating elements, and a second radiating element in the first column of radiating elements that is closest to the second additional radiating element is positioned in a central position in the first column of radiating elements.
6 . The base station antenna of claim 5 , wherein a third radiating element in the second column of radiating elements that is closest to the third additional radiating element is positioned at a bottom end of the second column of radiating elements, and a fourth radiating element in the second column of radiating elements that is closest to the fourth additional radiating element is positioned in a central position in the second column of radiating elements.
7 . The base station antenna of claim 6 , wherein the first additional radiating element is horizontally aligned with the first radiating element in the first column of radiating elements and is also horizontally aligned with a fifth radiating element in the second column of radiating elements that is at a top end of the second column.
8 . The base station antenna of claim 6 , wherein the first additional radiating element is vertically offset from the first radiating element in the first column of radiating elements and is also vertically offset from a fifth radiating element in the second column of radiating elements that is at a top end of the second column.
9 . A base station antenna, comprising:
a reflector;
a first radio frequency (“RF”) port;
a second RF port;
a first array of radiating elements mounted to extend forwardly from the reflector, where the radiating elements of the first array form a first F-style array of radiating elements, where each of the radiating elements in the first array is coupled to the first RF port; and
a second array of radiating elements mounted to extend forwardly from the reflector.
10 . The base station antenna of claim 9 , wherein the radiating elements of the second array form a second F-style array of radiating elements, where each of the radiating elements in the second array is coupled to the second RF port.
11 . The base station antenna of claim 10 , wherein the first array of radiating elements includes a first column of radiating elements, a first additional radiating element and a second additional radiating element, the second array of radiating elements includes a second column of radiating elements, a third additional radiating element and a fourth additional radiating element, where the first through fourth additional radiating elements form a third column of radiating elements that is positioned between the first column of radiating elements and the second column of radiating elements.
12 . The base station antenna of claim 11 , wherein a first radiating element in the first column of radiating elements that is closest to the first additional radiating element is positioned at a top end of the first column of radiating elements, and a second radiating element in the first column of radiating elements that is closest to the second additional radiating element is positioned in a central position in the first column of radiating elements.
13 . The base station antenna of claim 11 , wherein a spacing between the second additional radiating element and the fourth additional radiating element is substantially the same as an average spacing between adjacent radiating elements in the first column of radiating elements.
14 . The base station antenna of claim 11 , wherein the first and second additional radiating elements are both positioned on a same side of the third and fourth additional radiating elements.
15 . The base station antenna of claim 11 , wherein the second additional radiating element is positioned in between the third additional radiating element and the fourth additional radiating element.
16 . A base station antenna, comprising:
a reflector;
a first radio frequency (“RF”) port;
a second RF port;
a first array of radiating elements that includes a first column of radiating elements and a first additional radiating element, where each of the radiating elements in the first array of radiating elements are coupled to the first RF port; and
a second array of radiating elements mounted to extend forwardly from the reflector;
wherein some of the radiating elements in the first array of radiating elements each have a first dipole arm that extends at an angle of −45° with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first column of radiating elements and a second dipole arm that extends at an angle of +45° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first column of radiating elements, and other of the radiating elements in the first array of radiating elements each have a first dipole arm that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first column of radiating elements and a second dipole arm that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the first column of radiating elements;
wherein the second array of radiating elements includes a second column of radiating elements and a second additional radiating element, where each of the radiating elements in the second array of radiating elements are coupled to the second RF port;
wherein some of the radiating elements in the second array of radiating elements each have a first dipole arm that extends at an angle of −45° with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first column of radiating elements and a second dipole arm that extends at an angle of +45° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first column of radiating elements, and other of the radiating elements in the second array of radiating elements each have a first dipole arm that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first column of radiating elements and a second dipole arm that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the first column of radiating elements; and
wherein the radiating elements of the first array form a first F-style array of radiating elements.
17 . The base station antenna of claim 16 , wherein the first array of radiating elements further includes a second additional radiating element and the second array of radiating elements further includes a fourth additional radiating element, where the first dipole arm of the second additional radiating element and the first dipole arm the fourth additional radiating element each extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first column of radiating elements.
18 . The base station antenna of claim 17 , wherein the first and second additional radiating elements are vertically offset from the first column of radiating elements, and the third and fourth additional radiating elements are vertically offset from the second column of radiating elements.