Antenna system for wireless networks
An antenna system for a wireless network that provides multi-band and/or multi-sector operation from a single location is provided. The antenna system may provide improved control and adjustment of antennas contained within a compact design to allow sectors of coverage provided by the antennas to be modified to accommodate different cell site parameters that may otherwise have been satisfied using a more distributed arrangement of antennas.
1. An adjustable antenna system for use in a wireless communications network, the antenna system comprising:
an antenna housing;
a support structure enclosed at least partially within the antenna housing;
a base, wherein the support structure is rotatably coupled to the base with a rotatable coupling that allows for rotation of the support structure;
a first antenna movably coupled to the support structure with a first movable coupling, the first antenna configured to provide a first sector of coverage; and
a second antenna movably coupled to the support structure with a second movable coupling, the second antenna configured to provide second sector of coverage,
wherein the first and second antennas are rotatable in unison about a central axis of the antenna housing through rotation of the support structure about the base via the rotatable coupling, and
wherein the first and second antennas are each independently movable relative to the support structure via their respective first and second movable couplings.
2. The antenna system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first movement mechanism coupled to the first antenna and to the support structure, the first movement mechanism configured to adjust an orientation of the first antenna relative to the support structure; and
a second movement mechanism coupled to the second antenna and to the support structure, the second movement mechanism configured to adjust an orientation of the second antenna relative to the support structure.
3. The antenna system of claim 2 , wherein the first movement mechanism and the second movement mechanism are each configured to adjust an azimuth of the respective first sector of coverage and second sector of coverage through movement of the respective first antenna and second antenna.
4. The antenna system of claim 2 , wherein the first movement mechanism and the second movement mechanism are each configured to adjust a respective elevation of the first sector of coverage and the second sector of coverage.
5. The antenna system of claim 2 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna transit and receive over a common frequency band.
6. The antenna system of claim 2 , wherein the antenna housing further comprises a radome or a canister, and wherein the first antenna, the second antenna, the first movement mechanism, and the second movement mechanism are enclosed at least partially within the radome or the canister.
7. The antenna system of claim 2 , wherein the first movement mechanism further comprises a first actuator configured to pivot the first antenna relative to the support structure, and wherein the second movement mechanism further comprises a second actuator configured to pivot the second antenna relative to the support structure.
8. The antenna system of claim 2 , wherein the rotatable coupling is attached to a rotational actuator.
9. The antenna system of claim 2 , further comprising a third antenna configured to provide a third sector of coverage, the third antenna movably coupled to the support structure with a third movement mechanism configured to adjust an orientation of the third antenna relative to the support structure.
10. The antenna system of claim 9 , wherein the first, second, and third antennas are rotatable in unison about the central axis of the antenna housing through rotation of the support structure about the rotatable coupling, and wherein the first, second, and third antennas are each independently movable relative to the support structure and the base using the respective first, second, and third movement mechanisms.