Base station antennas having compact dual-polarized box dipole radiating elements therein that support high band cloaking

1 . A box dipole radiating element, comprising:

first through fourth pairs of support stalks;

a box-shaped radiator attached to at least one pair of support stalks among the first through fourth pairs of support stalks, the box-shaped radiator having first through fourth sides comprising respective first through fourth radiating arms, wherein the first through fourth radiating arms extend in respective first through fourth planes, where the first plane is parallel to the third plane, the second plane is parallel to the fourth plane, and the first plane is perpendicular to the second plane;

a first coaxial feed cable mounted to the first pair of support stalks, such that a first center conductor within the first coaxial feed cable is electrically connected to a first one of the support stalks in the first pair and a first shield conductor within the first coaxial feed cable is electrically connected to a second one of the support stalks in the first pair; and

a second coaxial feed cable mounted to the second pair of support stalks, such that a second center conductor within the second coaxial feed cable is electrically connected to a first one of the support stalks in the second pair and a second shield conductor within the second coaxial feed cable is electrically connected to a second one of the support stalks in the second pair,

wherein the first shield conductor is electrically connected to the second center conductor through at least one of the first through fourth radiating arms,

wherein the first shield conductor extends around the first center conductor, and

wherein the second shield conductor extends around the second center conductor.

2 . The radiating element of claim 1 ,

wherein the first radiating arm has a first end electrically coupled to the first one of the support stalks in the first pair, and a second end electrically coupled to the second one of the support stalks in the second pair,

wherein the second radiating arm has a first end electrically coupled to the first one of the support stalks in the second pair, and a second end electrically coupled to a second one of the support stalks in the third pair,

wherein the third radiating arm has a first end electrically coupled to a first one of the support stalks in the third pair, and a second end electrically coupled to a second one of the support stalks in the fourth pair,

wherein the fourth radiating arm has a first end electrically coupled to a first one of the support stalks in the fourth pair, and a second end electrically coupled to the second one of the support stalks in the first pair, and

wherein the first through fourth pairs of support stalks are integrally connected to an electrically conductive support stalk base.

3 . The radiating element of claim 2 , wherein the first end of the first radiating arm is galvanically connected to the first one of the support stalks in the first pair.

4 . The radiating element of claim 2 , wherein the first end of the first radiating arm is capacitively coupled to the first one of the support stalks in the first pair.

5 . The radiating element of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the first radiating arm faces an inner surface of the third radiating arm, and an inner surface of the second radiating arm faces an inner surface of the fourth radiating arm.

6 . The radiating element of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third coaxial feed cable mounted to the third pair of support stalks, such that a third center conductor within the third coaxial feed cable is electrically connected to a first one of the support stalks within the third pair and a third shield conductor within the third coaxial feed cable is electrically connected to a second one of the support stalks within the third pair; and

a fourth coaxial feed cable mounted to the fourth pair of support stalks, such that a fourth center conductor within the fourth coaxial feed cable is electrically connected to a first one of the support stalks within the fourth pair and a fourth shield conductor within the fourth coaxial feed cable is electrically connected to a second one of the support stalks within the fourth pair.

7 . The radiating element of claim 6 , wherein the first coaxial feed cable is mounted to the second one of the support stalks within the first pair, adjacent a generally L-shaped bend therein, wherein the generally L-shaped bend comprises a bend that is around 90°.

8 . A box dipole radiating element, comprising:

first through fourth pairs of support stalks;

first through fourth coaxial feed cables mounted on the first through fourth pairs of support stalks; and

a box-shaped radiator attached to the first through fourth pairs of support stalks,

wherein each pair of support stalks comprises a first support stalk and a second support stalk, the first support stalk comprising two generally L-shaped bends, and the second support stalk comprising two generally L-shaped bends,

wherein the first coaxial feed cable comprises a first center conductor that is electrically connected to the first support stalk of the first pair of support stalks, and a first shield conductor that is electrically connected to the second support stalk of the first pair of support stalks,

wherein the second coaxial feed cable comprises a second center conductor that is electrically connected to the first support stalk of the second pair of support stalks, and a second shield conductor that is electrically connected to the second support stalk of the second pair of support stalks,

wherein the first shield conductor is electrically connected to the second center conductor through the box-shaped radiator,

wherein the first shield conductor extends around the first center conductor, and

wherein the second shield conductor extends around the second center conductor.

9 . The radiating element of claim 8 , wherein the box-shaped radiator has first through fourth sides comprising respective first through fourth radiating arms that are configured to provide generally serpentine-shaped paths for radiation currents.

10 . The radiating element of claim 9 , wherein the first through fourth radiating arms extend in respective first through fourth planes, where the first plane is parallel to the third plane, the second plane is parallel to the fourth plane, and the first plane is perpendicular to the second plane.

11 . The radiating element of claim 10 , wherein the first and second support stalks in the first pair of support stalks each comprises a first portions extending in a fifth plane, a second portion extending in a sixth plane that is parallel to the fifth plane, and a third portion that extends in a seventh plane that is perpendicular to the fifth and sixth planes.

12 . The radiating element of claim 11 , wherein the fifth and sixth planes intersects the first plane at a 45° angle.

13 . The radiating element of claim 12 , wherein the fifth and sixth planes intersects the second plane at a −45° angle.

14 . A box dipole radiating element, comprising:

at least one pair of support stalks, each of the at least one pair of support stalks comprising a first support stalk and a second support stalk;

at least one of coaxial feed cables mounted on the at least one pair of support stalks, each of the at least one of coaxial feed cables comprising a center conductor and a shield conductor that extends around the center conductor; and

a box-shaped radiator attached to the at least one pair of support stalks, the box-shaped radiator having first through fourth sides comprising respective first through fourth radiating arms that are configured to provide generally serpentine-shaped paths for radiation currents in first through fourth planes,

wherein the generally serpentine-shaped paths in the radiating arms have a repeating periodic shape,

wherein the generally serpentine-shaped paths comprise a plurality of forward-projecting generally T-shaped stubs and a plurality of rearward-projecting generally T-shaped stubs,

wherein the center conductor of a first one of the at least one of coaxial feed cables is electrically connected to the first support stalk of a first one of the at least one pair of support stalks,

wherein the shield conductor of a second one of the at least one of coaxial feed cables is electrically connected to the second support stalk of a second one of the at least one pair of support stalks, and

wherein the center conductor of the first one of the at least one of coaxial feed cables is electrically connected to the shield conductor of the second one of the at least one of coaxial feed cables through at least one of the first through fourth radiating arms.

15 . The radiating element of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of forward-projecting generally T-shaped stubs comprises at least three generally T-shaped stubs, and the plurality of rearward-projecting generally T-shaped stubs comprises at least three generally T-shaped stubs.

16 . The radiating element of claim 14 , wherein an inner surface of the first radiating arm faces an inner surface of the third radiating arm, and an inner surface of the second radiating arm faces an inner surface of the fourth radiating arm.

17 . The radiating element of claim 14 , wherein each of the at least one pair of support stalks comprises a first end connected to the box-shaped radiator, and a second end connected to a support stalk base that is electrically conductive.