Multiband 40 degree split beam antenna for wireless network
View Patent ↗A compact multiband 40 degree split beam antenna system for a wireless network is disclosed. Each band employs a 3 column array with a special 3 output feed network. The 3 output feed network employs either a broadband 90 degree hybrid coupler with a 180 degrees splitter, or 2 broadband 90 degree hybrid couplers. The arrays employ dipole antenna elements, patch antenna elements, or a combination of both types. The antenna may exhibit 35 to 40 degrees horizontal beamwidth.
1. An antenna system comprising:
a first set of one or more antenna elements, a second set of one or more antenna elements, and a third set of one or more antenna elements, the second set of antenna elements positioned adjacent to the first set of antenna elements, the third set of antenna elements positioned adjacent to the second set of antenna elements; and
a beam forming feed network comprising:
a first input receiving a right beam RF signal;
a second input receiving a left beam RF signal;
a broadband 90 degree hybrid coupler having a first, a second, a third, and a fourth port, the first port coupled to the first input and receiving the right beam RF signal, the second port coupled to the second input and receiving the left beam RF signal, the fourth port connected to the second set of antenna elements;
a two-way splitter connected to the hybrid coupler third port, the splitter having a first and a second splitter port, the second splitter port connected to the third set of antenna elements, and the first splitter port providing a 180 degree delayed signal to the first set of antenna elements.
2. An antenna system as set out in claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third sets of antenna elements generates a dual beam RF radiated emission pattern having a left beam and a right beam.
3. An antenna system as set out in claim 1 , wherein the antenna system provides a dual frequency band signal.
4. An antenna system comprising:
a first set of one or more antenna elements, a second set of one or more antenna elements, and a third set of one or more antenna elements, the second set of antenna elements positioned adjacent to the first set of antenna elements, the third set of antenna elements positioned adjacent to the second set of antenna elements; and
a beam forming feed network comprising:
a first input receiving a right beam RF signal;
a first two-way splitter connected to the first input and splitting the right beam RF signal between a first and second splitter port;
a second input receiving a left beam RF signal;
a second two-way splitter connected to the second input and splitting the left beam RF signal between a third and fourth splitter port;
a first broadband 90 degree hybrid coupler having a first, a second, a third, and a fourth port, the fourth port connected to the first two-way splitter first splitter port, the third port receiving a 90 degree delayed left beam RF signal, the first port connected to the first set of antenna elements;
a second broadband 90 degree hybrid coupler having a fifth, a sixth, a seventh, and an eighth port, the sixth port connect to the third set of antenna elements, the seventh port connected to the fourth splitter port of the second two-way splitter, the eighth port receiving a 90 degree delayed right beam RF signal; and
a two-way combiner connected to and combining the second port of the first hybrid coupler and the fifth port of the second hybrid coupler and providing an output RF signal to the second set of antenna elements.
5. An antenna system as set out in claim 4 , wherein the first, second, and third sets of antenna elements generates a dual beam RF radiated emission pattern having a left beam and a right beam.
6. An antenna system as set out in claim 5 , wherein relative phases of the emission of the first, second, and third sets of antenna elements are 0 degrees, + or −90 degrees, and + or −180 degrees, respectively, for the left and right beam signals.
7. An antenna system as set out in claim 4 , wherein the antenna system provides a dual frequency band signal.
8. An antenna system comprising:
a first, second, and third set of antenna elements being arranged as a first, second, and third column and aligned along a first, second, and third symmetry axis, respectively, the first, second, and third axes being parallel with each other, wherein the first and third set of antenna elements are also aligned with respect to axes orthogonal to the first and third symmetry axes, and wherein the second set of antenna elements are offset with respect to the axes orthogonal to the first and third symmetry axes, the first, second, and third antenna elements being operative in a first frequency band; and,
a fourth, fifth, and sixth set of antenna elements being arranged as a fourth, fifth, and sixth column and aligned along a fourth, fifth, and sixth symmetry axes, respectively, the fourth, fifth, and sixth axes being parallel with each other and the first, second, and third symmetry lines, the fifth symmetry axis being co-located with the second symmetry axis and the fourth and sixth symmetry axes located between the first and third symmetry axes, wherein the fourth and sixth set of antenna elements are also aligned with respect to axes orthogonal to the fourth and sixth symmetry axes, and the fifth set of antenna elements are offset with respect to the axes orthogonal to the fourth and sixth symmetry axes, the fourth, fifth, and sixth antenna elements being operative in a second frequency band.
9. An antenna system as set out in claim 8 , further comprising a dual beam forming network coupled to each of the respective antenna elements.
10. An antenna system as set out in claim 8 , wherein the frequency of the first frequency band is less than the frequency of the second frequency band.
11. An antenna system as set out in claim 8 , wherein:
the first, second, and third set of antenna elements comprise dipole antenna elements, each having elements oriented at approximately a 45 degree angle with respect to the first, second, and third symmetry axes; and,
the fourth, fifth, and sixth set of antenna elements comprise patch antennas, each having sides oriented at approximately a 45 degree angle with respect to the fourth, fifth, and sixth symmetry axes.
12. An antenna system as set out in claim 8 , wherein:
the first and third set of antenna elements comprise a first set of patch antennas, each having sides oriented at approximately a 45 degree angle with respect to the first and third symmetry axes;
the second set of antenna elements comprise dipole antennas; and,
the fourth, fifth, and sixth set of antenna elements comprise a second set of patch antennas, each having sides oriented at approximately a 45 degree angle with respect to the fourth, fifth, and sixth symmetry axes.
13. An antenna system as set out in claim 8 , wherein:
the first and third set of antenna elements comprise a first set of patch antennas, each having sides oriented parallel with respect to the first and third symmetry axes;
the second set of antenna elements comprise dipole antenna elements, each having elements oriented at approximately a 45 degree angle with respect to the second symmetry axis;
the fourth and sixth set of antenna elements comprise a second set of patch antennas, each having sides oriented at approximately a 45 degree angle with respect to the fourth and sixth symmetry axes; and,
the fifth set of antenna elements comprise a third set of patch antennas, each having sides oriented parallel with respect to the fifth symmetry axis.
14. An antenna system as set out in claim 10 , wherein the separation between adjacent symmetry axes of the fourth, fifth, and sixth symmetry axes is the product of the wavelength of second frequency band and a value in the range of 0.4 and 0.55.
15. An antenna system as set out in claim 8 , wherein the separation of the antenna elements in the fourth, fifth, and sixth set of antenna elements is uniformly spaced with respect to the fifth symmetry axis and the axis orthogonal to the fifth symmetry axis.