High performance patch-type radiating elements for massive MIMO communication systems
An antenna includes a cross-polarized feed signal network configured to convert first and second RF input feed signals to first and second pairs of cross-polarized feed signals at respective first and second pairs of feed signal output ports. A patch radiating element is provided, which is electrically coupled to the first and second feed signal output ports. The patch radiating element includes an electrically conductive forward-facing surface thereon, which is segmented into four quadrants by four generally L-shaped slots within the electrically conductive forward-facing surface. These four generally L-shaped slots are positioned back-to-back relative each other so that a cross-shaped portion of the electrically conductive forward-facing surface extends between the four generally L-shaped slots and radially outward towards four respective points on a perimeter of the patch radiating element.
1 . An antenna, comprising:
a cross-polarized feed signal network configured to convert first and second radio frequency (RF) input feed signals to first and second pairs of cross-polarized feed signals at respective first and second pairs of feed signal output ports; and
a patch radiating element electrically coupled to the first and second feed pairs of signal output ports, said patch radiating element having an electrically conductive forward-facing surface thereon that is segmented into four quadrants by four generally L-shaped slots within the electrically conductive forward-facing surface, said four generally L-shaped slots positioned back-to-back relative each other so that a cross-shaped portion of the electrically conductive forward-facing surface extends between the four generally L-shaped slots and radially outward towards four respective points on a perimeter of the patch radiating element,
four probes, which electrically couple respective ones of the four quadrants of the electrically conductive forward-facing surface to corresponding ones of the first and second pairs of feed signal output ports, where each probe electrically connects to the patch radiating element at a respective location that is positioned radially outwardly of a respective one of generally-L-shaped slots and that is in between the two segments that form the respective generally-L-shaped slots.
2 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein said patch radiating element has a rectangular-shaped perimeter; and wherein the cross-shaped portion of the electrically conductive forward-facing surface extends radially outward towards four respective sides of the patch radiating element.
3 . The antenna of claim 2 , wherein a center of the cross-shaped portion of the electrically conductive forward-facing surface is aligned to a geometric center of the electrically conductive forward-facing surface.
4 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive forward-facing surface is a metallized surface, which extends on a forward-facing surface of a patch radiating element substrate; and wherein the four generally L-shaped slots expose the forward-facing surface of the patch radiating element substrate.
5 . The antenna of claim 4 , wherein the four probes electrically couple respective ones of the four quadrants of the electrically conductive forward-facing surface to corresponding ones of the first and second pairs of feed signal output ports.
6 . The antenna of claim 5 , wherein the four probes have distal ends that extend at least partially through the patch radiating element substrate.
7 . The antenna of claim 4 , wherein the four probes have (i) first ends electrically coupled to corresponding ones of the first and second pairs of feed signal output ports, and (ii) second arcuate-shaped ends, which extend on a rear-facing surface of the patch radiating element substrate.
8 . The antenna of claim 7 , wherein each of the second arcuate-shaped ends is capacitively coupled through the patch radiating element substrate to a corresponding one of the four quadrants of the electrically conductive forward-facing surface.
9 . The antenna of claim 4 , wherein each of the four generally L-shaped slots includes a pair of linear slot segments having generally L-shaped ends.
10 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein four generally L-shaped slots are patterned such that the cross-shaped portion of the electrically conductive forward-facing surface includes a central hub portion and four spoke portions that extend radially outward at 0°, 90°, 180° and 270° from a center of the central hub portion.
11 . The antenna of claim 10 , wherein the central hub portion has a generally circular shape when viewed from a plan perspective.
12 . An antenna, comprising:
a cross-polarized feed signal network configured to convert first and second radio frequency (RF) input feed signals to first and second pairs of cross-polarized feed signals at respective first and second pairs of feed signal output ports;
a patch radiating element electrically coupled to the first and second feed signal output ports, said patch radiating element having an electrically conductive forward-facing surface thereon that is segmented into four quadrants by four generally L-shaped slots within the electrically conductive forward-facing surface, said four generally L-shaped slots positioned back-to-back relative each other so that a cross-shaped portion of the electrically conductive forward-facing surface extends between the four generally L-shaped slots and radially outward towards four respective points on a perimeter of the patch radiating element; and
four metallized-polymer probes, which are electrically connected to metallized contact patches on a rear-facing surface of the patch radiating element substrate; and wherein the metallized contact patches are electrically connected by respective plated through-holes within the patch radiating element substrate to corresponding quadrants of the electrically conductive forward-facing surface.
13 . The antenna of claim 12 , wherein the patch radiating element substrate and the four metallized-polymer probes are configured as a single piece unitary body.
14 . An antenna, comprising:
a cross-polarized feed signal network configured to convert first and second radio frequency (RF) input feed signals to first and second pairs of cross-polarized feed signals at respective first and second pairs of feed signal output ports; and
a patch radiating element electrically coupled to the first and second feed signal output ports, said patch radiating element having an electrically conductive forward-facing surface thereon that is segmented into four quadrants by four generally L-shaped slots within the electrically conductive forward-facing surface, said four generally L-shaped slots positioned back-to-back relative each other so that a cross-shaped portion of the electrically conductive forward-facing surface extends between the four generally L-shaped slots and radially outward towards four respective points on a perimeter of the patch radiating element;
wherein the patch radiating element comprises a polymer patch radiating element substrate; and wherein the four generally L-shaped slots extend entirely through the polymer patch radiating element substrate.
15 . The antenna of claim 14 , wherein the polymer patch radiating element substrate includes metallized forward-facing and metallized rear-facing surfaces; and wherein the four generally L-shaped slots have metallized sidewalls, which extend between the metallized forward-facing and metallized rear-facing surfaces.
16 . The antenna of claim 15 , further comprising four metallized-polymer probes, which are electrically connected to the metallized rear-facing surface of the patch radiating element substrate.