Shared antenna arrays with multiple independent tilt

1. A feed network for use with an antenna array, comprising:

a. a first RF input for a first sub-band signal coupled to a first sub-band parameter control;

b. a second RF input for a second sub-band signal coupled to a second sub-band parameter control;

c. a combiner network having a first diplexer coupled to first outputs of the first and second sub-band parameter controls and a second diplexer coupled to second outputs of the first and second sub-band parameter controls, the combiner network also having a branchline hybrid having a first input coupled to the first diplexer common port and a second input coupled to the second diplexer common port, the combiner network also having at least one output comprising a combination of the first sub-band signal and the second sub-band signal; and

d. a beamforming network, the beamforming network coupled to the combiner network and having a plurality of RF outputs;

wherein the first and second sub-band parameter controls are independently adjustable.

2. The feed network of claim 1 , wherein the first sub-band parameter control comprises a first differential phase shifter and the second sub-band parameter control comprises a second differential phase shifter.

3. The feed network of claim 2 , wherein adjusting the first differential phase shifter results in the first RF sub-band to have a first set of phase relationships on the plurality of RF outputs, and wherein adjusting the second differential phase shifter results in the second RF sub-band to have a second set of phase relationships on the plurality of RF outputs.

4. The feed network of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of secondary beam tilt phase shifters, wherein the plurality of RF outputs are coupled to the plurality of secondary beam tilt phase shifters.

5. The feed network of claim 1 , further comprising at least one bypass path that provides at least one additional RF output that does not pass through the beamforming network.

6. The feed network of claim 1 , wherein the first sub-band parameter control divides the first sub-band signal into two equal amplitude, variable phase signals which are coupled to first and second inputs of the combiner network, and the second sub-band parameter control divides the second sub-band signal into two equal amplitude, variable phase signals which are coupled to third and fourth inputs of the combiner network.

7. The feed network of claim 6 , wherein the at least one output of the combiner network comprises a first output comprising a first portion of the first sub-band signal and a first portion of the second sub-band signal, and second output comprising a second portion of the first sub-band signal and a second portion of the second sub-band signal, wherein a power division of the first and second portions of the first sub-band signal is controlled by the first sub-band parameter control and a power division of the first and second portions of the second sub-band signal is controlled by the second sub-band parameter control.

8. The feed network of claim 7 , wherein the beamforming network comprises a Butler matrix.

9. The feed network of claim 1 , further comprising a third RF input for a third sub-band signal coupled to a third sub-band parameter control, wherein the combiner network is further coupled to the third sub-band parameter control and the at least one output of the combiner network further comprises a combination of the first, second and third sub-band signals.

10. An antenna, comprising:

a. a feed network, having;

1. a first RF input for a first sub-band coupled to a first sub-band tilt control;

2. a second RF input for a second sub-band coupled to a second sub-band tilt control, the second sub-band tilt control being controllable independently with respect to the first sub-band tilt control;

3. a combiner network including a first diplexer coupled to first outputs of the first and second sub-band tilt controls and a second diplexer coupled to the outputs of the first and second, sub-band tilt controls, the combiner network further having a first branchline hybrid coupled to the first diplexer common port and a second branchline hybrid coupled to the second diplexer common port, the combiner network also having at least one output comprising a combination of the first sub-band signal and the second sub-band signal; and

4. a beamforming network, the beamforming network coupled to the combiner network and having a plurality of RF outputs; and

b. an array of radiating elements, the radiating elements being coupled to the RF outputs.

11. The antenna of claim 10 , wherein the array of radiating elements further comprises a plurality of sub-arrays, each sub-array being coupled to one of the plurality of RF outputs and having a plurality of radiating elements.

12. The antenna of claim 10 , wherein a secondary tilt devices couple the array of radiating elements to the RF outputs.

13. The antenna of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the array of radiating elements receive a signal that bypasses the secondary tilt devices.

14. The antenna of claim 13 , wherein the at least one output of the combiner network comprises a first output comprising a first portion of the first sub-hand signal and a first portion of the second sub-band signal, and second output comprising a second portion of the first sub-band signal and a second portion, of the second sub-band signal, wherein a power division of the first and second portions of the first sub-band signal is controlled by the first sub-band tilt control and a power division of the first and second portions of the second sub-band signal is controlled by the second sub-band tilt control.

15. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein the beamforming network comprises a Butler matrix.