Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
  • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
  • H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
  • H01Q1/241—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM
  • H01Q1/246—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for base stations
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
  • H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture
  • H01Q3/30—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array
  • H01Q3/32—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array by mechanical means

Definitions

• the invention relates to a radiocommunication antenna for a base station of cellular radiotelephony networks, and more particularly an antenna with deflection of the radiation lobe by variable phase shifter.
• tilt The angle made in the vertical plane by the direction of the antenna's maximum radiation with respect to the horizontal is called “tilt”. This angle corresponds to a deflection of the radiation lobe, generally caused downwards.
• the “tilt” is said to be “mechanical” when the antenna is installed with an inclination relative to the vertical.
• the “tilt” is said to be “electric” when the internal structure of the antenna provides for electrical phase shifts between the signals supplying the various elementary sources internal to the antenna, combined to obtain the desired radiation in the vertical plane.
• the electric tilt angle is varied by placing one or more variable phase shifters inside the antenna.
• the current state of the art means that the variation in phase shift is obtained by mechanical displacement of parts having an electrical function.
• the usual arrangements of these variable phase shifters make it possible to drive them all together by means of a single actuator.
• the control member is placed at the bottom of the antenna and consists of either a rod to be moved, or an element to be rotated.
• the antennas whose variation of the "tilt” can be operated remotely, by a remote control and a communication link between the control unit and the antenna itself (so-called RET antennas).
• RET antennas a remote control and a communication link between the control unit and the antenna itself.
• an electric motor drives the control member and a sensor informs the control unit of the position (for example) of the control member to manage the "tilt” imposed on the antenna.
• VET manually operated antennas
• RET remotely controllable version
• the object of the invention is to provide a variable electrical tilt antenna by making a module fully integrated in the antenna extractable to ensure the transformation of a VET antenna into a RET antenna and vice versa.
• This module will correspond either to manual control for a VET antenna or to motorized remote control for a RET antenna.
• the advantages of such modularity compared to the addition of an external box are:
• the sensor necessary for remote control can be directly connected to the internal actuator of the variable phase shifters in the antenna, since this module penetrates into the antenna, instead of being connected to it through the manual control member already present on the antenna. This avoids the need to pre-position both the antenna and the external box on the same “tilt” value before assembling them to each other. The operation is simpler and no longer presents a source of error. It can even be envisaged on site, that is to say without dismantling the antenna of its installation.
• the RET version module inserted into the antenna can itself still have the possibility of manual control, while an external box which meshes with the existing manual control thus hides access to this control.
• the invention therefore generally conceives of a variable electrical tilt antenna whose transformation between a manually controlled version and a remote controlled version (or vice versa) is effected by extraction from an internal module. antenna and replacement by another ensuring the new functionality sought.
• the antenna comprises a module, insertable into the antenna and extractable from the latter, comprising a mechanical or electromechanical device cooperating with the actuating device to control the movement of the actuator when the module is mounted in the antenna.
• the mechanical or electromechanical device comprises a movable actuator loc, either of the motor type, in particular for remote actuation, or of the manual actuation type
• the actuation device comprises a connectable means of removable to the actuator block.
• the means removably connectable to the movable actuator block comprises a square having a first part and a second part, the first part being permanently integral with the actuator block and the second part being connectable so removable to the actuator.
• the actuation device comprises:
• a control axis comprising a screw and a shaft comprising grooves, said control axis being terminated at the end of said screw by a groove,
• a block integral with a fixed part of the antenna and comprising a threaded orifice forming a bearing
• a movable stop integral with said actuator, said movable stop comprising a notch intended to receive said groove of said control axis, so that a rotation of said screw, and thus of the control axis, in said bearing causes the displacement of said actuator.
• the actuating device comprises a cylindrical part, comprising a first gear pinion and a through bore, the wall of said bore comprising tongues, said cylindrical part being mounted coaxially on the control shaft, and
• the electromechanical device of the module comprises a second gear pinion, actuable by means of a motor, meshing with the first pinion when the module is mounted in the antenna, so that the rotation of the axis control is induced by a rotation of the first pinion, the tongues of the cylindrical part being engaged in the grooves of the control shaft, so as to allow a coaxial translational movement between said cylindrical part and the control axis.
• the actuator is a plate, or several plates integral with each other, sliding inside a fixed part of the antenna.
• Figures 1, 2 and 3 relate to a first embodiment of the antenna according to the invention. They represent respectively:
• Figure 1 a perspective view of an antenna according to the invention in its manually controlled version
• Figure 2 u perspective view of an antenna according to the invention in its remote control version
• Figure 3 a perspective view of an extractable module of the antenna according to the invention in its remote control version
• FIGS 4, 5, 6 and 7 relate to a second embodiment of the antenna according to the invention. They represent respectively:
• Figure 4 a perspective view of the lower part of an antenna according to the invention in its manually controlled version
• Figure 5 a perspective view of an extractable module of an antenna according to the invention in its remote control version
• Figure 6 a view from a different angle of the module in Figure 5.
• Figure 7 a perspective view of the lower part of an antenna according to the invention in its remote control version
• FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D relate to a block integrated into the antenna according to the second embodiment. They represent respectively: - Figure 8A: a front view of the block; Figure 8B: a bottom view of the block; Figure 8C: a left view of the block; Figure 8D: a sectional view of the block in the DD plane defined in Figure 8A.
• FIGS. 9A and 9B relate to a control axis integrated into the antenna according to the second embodiment. They represent respectively:
• Figure 9A a longitudinal view of the control axis
• Figure 9B a sectional view of the control axis in the plane B-B defined in Figure 9A
• Figures 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D relate to a movable stop integrated into the antenna according to the second embodiment. They represent respectively: - Figu re 1 0A: a front view of the movable stop;
• Figure 1 0B a right view of the movable stop
• Figure 10C a top view of the movable stop
• Figure 1 0D a sectional view of the movable stop in the plane D-D defined in Figure 10A.
• Figures 1 1 A, 1 1 B, 1 1 C, 1 1 D and 1 1 E relate to a cylindrical part integrated into the antenna according to the second embodiment. They represent respectively:
• Figure 1 1 A a front view of the cylindrical part
• - Figure 1 1 B a sectional view of the cylindrical part in the plane B-B defined in Figure 1 1 A;
• Figure 1 1 C a sectional view of the cylindrical part in the plane C-C defined in Figure 1 1 A;
• FIGS. 12A and 12B relate to a sleeve integrated into the antenna according to the second embodiment. They represent respectively:
• Figure 1 2A a perspective view of the sleeve
• Figure 12B a view of one end of the sleeve.
• Figure 1 shows an example of an antenna used in cellular network base stations. Such an antenna is installed vertically (carried by a pylon-like support structure, directly by a wall, etc.).
• the antenna consists of an envelope 1, called a radome or hood, closed at its ends by an upper cap 2 and by a lower cap 3.
• This lower cap 3 comprises one or more coaxial connectors forming access to the antenna for the radio signals.
• Other embodiments or arrangements are possible.
• a variable electrical “tilt” antenna differs from a fixed “tilt” antenna by the presence of the control member for varying the electrical “tilt”.
• Fig ure 1 thus represents an antenna whose electrical "tilt” can be changed manually, with the adjustment and tracking members of the electrical "tilt” located at its base, which is the most usual arrangement.
• the part 5 of hexagonal shape allows by rotation to modify the electrical "tilt" of the antenna.
• a sleeve 6 constitutes the locating member; it is moved inside the antenna directly by the actuator 13 (FIG. 3) of the variable phase shifters, and it comes out more or less from the antenna when the part 5 is turned on itself.
• This sleeve 6 has graduation lines which make it possible to identify the value of the “tilt” angle the antenna is adjusted to as the part 5 is rotated in one direction or the other. .
• Other arrangements or other forms of the adjustment member and of the locating member are possible without calling into question the principle of modularity described below.
• the plate 7 supports, inside the antenna, a module transforming the action on the part 5 in a movement of the actuator 13 of the variable phase shifters.
• This module can be extracted from the antenna by removing the screws 8 and by disconnecting it from the actuator 13 of the variable phase shifters by unscrewing the sleeve 6 as described below.
• a recess in the part 3 allows the passage of this module to the outside, recess closed by the plate 7 when everything is in place.
• FIG. 2 The same antenna in a RET version which can be controlled remotely is shown in FIG. 2. The difference lies in the presence of a connector 9 making it possible to supply the energy necessary for the rotation of the motor and making it possible to exchange the control signals from from a remote unit. These signals can respond to any protocol or specification without calling into question the principle stated. If an electronic circuit is necessary to convert or interpret the signals exchanged, these circuits will also be fixed and / or integrated into the extractable module held by the plate 7.
• Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the extractable module.
• the plate 7 is not in place.
• the motor 15, the position sensor 1 6 and the members which link them to the rest of the mechanism are only present in a RET module.
• the module comprises an actuator block comprising a screw 1 0 and a part 1 1 movable on the screw 10.
• a bracket 12 provides the connection between the part 1 1 and the actuator 13.
• a rotation of the part 5 or of the motor 1 5 turns the screw 1 0 which linearly moves the part 1 1 and the bracket 12 fixed on the part 1 1.
• This displacement is here linear because, in this embodiment of the antenna, the design of the variable phase shifters is based on a linear movement to make them vary.
• the actuator 1 3 of these variable phase shifters is a rod which carries at its end a screw 14, comprising a screw head 14B and a screw body 14A, which itself passes through a hole in the bracket 12.
• the bracket 12 comprises a first part 12A and a second part 12B, the first part 12A being permanently secured to the actuator block (10, 1 1) and the second part 12B being removably connectable to the actuator 1 3.
• the nut which immobilizes the assembly 13 and 14 on the bracket 12 is the threaded sleeve 6 described above. Thanks to this threaded sleeve 6 which is screwed onto the body of the screw 14A of the screw 14 until said sleeve 6 abuts on the second part 12B of the bracket 12, the neur action 13 of the variable phase shifters is indeed integral with the movement of the members 1 1 and 12.
• the actuator 1 3 and the second part 12B of the bracket 12 are clamped between the screw head 14B of the screw 14 and the sleeve 6, thus joining the actuating device.
• the antenna comprises a nut for the transformation of a rotational movement into a translational movement of the actuator of the variable phase shifters which remains integral with said actuator, during the extraction of the antenna control module.
• the motor and the position sensor are completely integrated into the module in its remote control version.
• the difference between the two embodiments is, inter alia, in the screw-nut system, linked to the module in the first embodiment and linked to the antenna in the second embodiment.
• This embodiment advantageously avoids providing a screw-nut system both in the extractable module with manual control and the extractable module with remote control, the manual control module requiring no motor, no position sensor or means of communication. remotely.
• the manually controlled module then only consists of a single plate 29, thus limiting the number of parts required to the maximum.
• FIG. 4 represents the lower part of a variable electric tilt antenna in its manually controlled version.
• the extractable module of the antenna only consists of a single plate 29.
• the screw-nut system formed by a screw 21 A and a bearing 23A, remains integral with the antenna, during the removal of the extractable module from the antenna.
• the bearing 23A is part of a block 23, shown in detail in FIGS. 8A to 8D, said block 23 being integral with a fixed part 42 of the antenna.
• This block 23 comprises a first orifice 23B, a second threaded orifice 23C, forming the abovementioned bearing 23A, and a third orifice 23D, the orifices 23C and 23D being coaxial.
• the screw 21 A is part of a control axis 21, shown in detail in Figures 9A and 9B.
• the control axis 21 is terminated at the end of the screw 21 A by a groove 21 B.
• control axis 21 also includes a non-threaded portion, constituting a shaft 21 C, completed, at the end of the control axis 21, by a hexagonal piece 21 D.
• the shaft 21 C has grooves 21 E and a circumferential groove 21 F.
• the actuator 41 of the variable phase shifters consists of a sliding plate inside a fixed part 42 of the antenna.
• the actuator 41 can also be constituted by several plates integral with each other.
• the notch 22A of the movable stop 22 is intended to receive the groove 21 B of the control axis 21, so to make a pivot connection between the movable stop 22 and the control pin 21.
• control axis 21 extends to the outside of the antenna through an opening 29A arranged in the plate 29 and ends in a hexagonal piece 21 B, said piece hexagonal 21 B to be accessible to an operator for manual control of the tilt angle.
• a cylindrical part 25, shown in detail in FIGS. 1 1 A to 1 1 C, comprises a pinion 25A, a body 25B, a head 25C and a bore 25D completely passing through said cylindrical part 25.
• the head 25C has lugs 25F.
• This cylindrical part 25 is fixed by means of a pivot connection to the block 23, the head 25C of the cylindrical part 25 fitting into the orifice 23D of the block 23.
• the cylindrical part 25 is blocked in translation in the part 23 by latching by means of the pins 25F located on the circumferential surface of the head 25C.
• the cylindrical part 25 can move in rotation in the part 23 through the orifice 23D.
• the wall of the bore 25D has tongues 25E along the body 25B of the cylindrical part 25.
• This cylindrical part 25 is mounted coaxially on the shaft 21 C of the control shaft 21, the tongues 25E of the cylindrical part 25 being engaged in the grooves 21 E of the control shaft 21, so as to allow a coaxial translational movement between said cylindrical part 25 and the control axis 21.
• the function of the pinion 25A will be described below in connection with the use of a removable module for the remote control.
• the sleeve 24 is mounted, by means of a pivot connection on the shaft 21 C of the control axis and projects outside the module through the opening 29A arranged in the plate 29.
• a bore 24B, formed in the sleeve 24, is intended to coaxially receive a portion of the shaft 21 C of the control axis 21.
• the sleeve 24 is fixed to the shaft 21 C of the control axis 21 by snap-fastening the sleeve 24 by means of the circumferential groove 21 F provided for this purpose.
• the sleeve 24, the pinion 25 and the control pin 21 remain integral with the antenna, when the plate 29 is dismantled, and allow the replacement of this plate 29 by a remote control module allowing the drive of the actuator 41 without the need to dismantle any other part of the antenna, module which will be described in conjunction with FIGS. 5 to 7.
• FIG. 4 illustrates the structure of a variable electric tilt antenna in its manually controlled version.
• the rotat on of the hexagonal piece 21 D causes an identical rotation of the screw 21 A, these two pieces being part of the control axis 21.
• the control axis 21 therefore moves in a linear movement, combined with a rotational movement, and is connected to the movable actuator 41 of the variable phase shifters by means of the movable stop 22 integral with said actuator 41.
• the sleeve 24 which has graduations to indicate the corresponding value of the electrical "tilt", projects more or less outside of the plate 29 through the opening 29A, arranged in the plate 29, which allows an operator, thanks to the graduations, to know the value of the "tilt".
• the sleeve 24 can advantageously include colored zones with different colors between each graduation, thus making it possible to know, without reading, the value of the “tilt” at which the antenna is adjusted.
• these graduations in colored zones facilitate the rapid identification, without reading, of the angle of the "tilt" set on the antenna, for an operator, from a distance greater than that which is necessary for him to read the values of graduations carried by the sleeve 24.
• FIG. 5 represents the module, extractable from an antenna in its remote control version, extracted from the antenna.
• the module comprises parts which are completely integral with said module.
• gear pinion 32 actuable by means of a motor 31, the shaft of said pinion 32 comprising an end portion 36.
• the module also includes a position sensor 20, a drive cam 33, a return spring 34, two end-of-travel micro-sensors 35 and a plate 30.
• the position sensor 20 is a position sensor absolute, so that the module does not require a calibration operation, when inserting the module into the antenna.
• this position sensor 20, necessary for the remote control can be directly linked to the position of the actuator 41 of the phase shifters and not to the motor.
• the position sensor 20 is a linear displacement sensor produced with contactless technology so as to increase its service life.
• this sensor can be of the LVTD (linear variable differential transformer) type in which a metal core moves in the center of three juxtaposed coils.
• the center coil is supplied by an alternating voltage and the ratio of the voltages supplied by the two extreme coils corresponds to the relative position of the core with respect to these coils.
• the plate 30, the shape of which is substantially identical to the plate 29, comprises an opening 30A arranged in the said plate 30, the said opening 30A being identical to the opening 29A arranged in the plate 29.
• Two connectors 38A and 38B mounted on the plate 30 allow the module to be connected to an electrical supply and to a device forming the electrical tilt control signals.
• the connector 38A brings from a management unit (not shown) the supply voltage and the electrical tilt control signals.
• the other connector 38B makes it possible to pass on the voltage and the signals to a neighboring antenna if the control protocol used allows operation by addressing units on a common network.
• FIG. 6 represents a perspective view from another angle of the module of FIG. 5.
• the module housing 39 includes electronic circuits for managing the unit which interprets the control signals received on the connector 38A according to the communication protocol used, controls the motor 31 and reads the indication of the position sensor 20 , monitors the operating status of the assembly and retransmits status and alarm messages via the connector 38A or 38B depending on the communication protocol used.
• the parts 40 constitute the outputs of the wires to the motor 31, the position sensor 20 and the end-of-travel micro-sensors 35.
• the antenna is fully housed in an envelope 27 closed at its lower end by a lower cap 28.
• This lower cap 28 has a closed recess, either by the plate 29 in the version with manual control ( Figure 4), or by plate 30 in the remote control version ( Figure 7).
• the module described above is insertable, as illustrated in FIG. 7, into the lower part of the antenna after removal of the plate 29.
• the module is immobilized in the lower part of the antenna by fixing the plate 30 to the lower cap 28 by means of screws 26.
• this module allows it to be housed in the lower part of the antenna through the recess of the lower cap 28, while allowing the extraction of said module later, for example, for its replacement by the manually operated module.
• the rotation of the pinion 32 by means of the motor 31 causes the rotation of the pinion 25A of the cylindrical part 25 and at the same time the rotation of the control axis 21.
• the translation of the control axis 21 is accompanied by the translation of the actuator 41.
• the sleeve 24, which moves at the same time as the actuator 41 of the variable phase shifters, comprises a finger 24A acting on the cam 33 actuating the position sensor 20.
• a spring 34 maintains the permanent support of the cam 33 on the finger 24A.
• the sleeve 24 is permanently visible outside the antenna, said sleeve 24 projecting outside the module through the opening 30A arranged in the plate 30, making it possible to maintain the possibility of a visual control of the electric tilt value to which the antenna is adjusted.
• Manual control of the movement of the actuator 41 by means of the hexagonal piece 21 D is always available in the remote control version of the module.
• the position sensor 20 is always driven and thus provides an indication corresponding to the actual set value of the "tilt" on the antenna.
• the two end-of-travel micro-sensors 35 constitute a safety device in the control of the motor 31 in the event that moving parts come into abutment at one of the ends of the useful travel.
• These micro-sensors 35 are constituted by switches, also called in this case micro-switches. Other types of micro-sensors can however be used.
• the module according to the invention can be removed from the antenna by the lower part of the antenna through the recess provided in the lower cap 3 or 28.

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• 2003
  • 2003-02-24 FR FR0302237A patent/FR2851694B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2004
  • 2004-02-23 WO PCT/FR2004/050074 patent/WO2004077611A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2004-02-23 ES ES04713571T patent/ES2373393T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-02-23 DE DE602004028580T patent/DE602004028580D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-02-23 US US10/496,154 patent/US7286092B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-02-23 EP EP04713571A patent/EP1599918B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-02-23 DE DE112004000342.3T patent/DE112004000342B4/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-02-23 AT AT04713571T patent/ATE477604T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

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