Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/005—Damping of vibrations; Means for reducing wind-induced forces
• • 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
• • 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
  • H01Q1/20—Resilient mountings
• • 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
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/42—Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
  • H01Q21/28—Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q9/00—Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
  • H01Q9/04—Resonant antennas
  • H01Q9/30—Resonant antennas with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole
  • H01Q9/32—Vertical arrangement of element

Definitions

• the invention relates to an antenna arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.
• a cladding which is cylindrical in cross section and which, according to DE 202 18 101 Ul, has a single wall or, according to DE 202 05 550 Ul, can also be double-walled, as in the prior art mentioned at the beginning.
• a generic device for receiving sector antennas has become known from DE 101 19 612 AI.
• the antenna arrangement for receiving the sector antennas which preferably consists of mobile radio antennas, has a hend arranged mast, the upper portion of which has a support piece 3 formed by a tube. It is a mast-shaped, inner support tube.
• the sector antennas are mounted on the outer circumference of this support tube.
• a cladding tube attached to the mast is provided, which is permeable to the electromagnetic radiation. It is the so-called radome.
• the cladding tube connects continuously to a standpipe, which forms the lower section of the mast.
• the actual mast thus forms a step transition from the lower standpipe with a larger diameter to the upper tubular wire piece with a thinner diameter, passages being provided on the step transition thus formed, through which the cables leading to the sector antennas are laid.
• the object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide an improved antenna arrangement.
• the object is achieved according to the features specified in claim 1.
• Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.
• the present invention creates a highly stable antenna arrangement which is designed in a mast-like manner, the entire antenna system being covered in an extremely narrow tubular radome.
• this radome can preferably have a cylindrical cross section, but can also have any other horizontal cross section, for example n-polygonal, oval-shaped, etc.
• the antenna arrangement according to the invention is distinguished in that it has includes a service zone in which all relevant setting and connection measures can be carried out, without having to dismantle the antenna mast as a whole or even remove the radome beforehand in order to access the components underneath.
• the antenna arrangement according to the invention has a damping device which ensures that, given the corresponding wind speed, the antenna structure and, in particular, the radome are prevented from rocking, and thus destruction of the system or parts thereof.
• the antenna system according to the invention can be constructed in this way be that below the radome it comprises antenna radiators which, for example, radiate in at least two sectors, preferably in three or more sectors. Any radiator devices can be used that can emit in a wide variety of horizontal widths, for example with a 90 'half-width, a 60-65' half-width, etc.
• the antenna arrangement according to the invention can also include broadband or narrowband antennas and radiators.
• This structure can be such that the entire antenna arrangement radiates and receives only in one band or in several bands, for example in two bands.
• the band structure can also be so broadband that it covers, for example, the 1800 MHz band, but for example also the 1900 MHz band (as is customary in the USA) and / or the UMTS band of approximately 2000 MHz.
• the radiator elements can preferably be adjusted via a remote-controllable down-tilt device with a different beam angle with respect to the horizontal plane.
• the so-called service zone is preferably located below all radiator elements.
• the service zone is preferably constructed in such a way that in the closed state it presents itself as an extension of the radome surrounding the radiator elements.
• the service zone can comprise a corresponding housing frame at a suitable axial height and with a corresponding diameter, which has openings of sufficiently large size to provide access to the interior.
• the opening areas can be closed and covered by individual covering caps or by housing shells which are surrounded by the antenna mast overall, which preferably lies at least approximately in the circumferential plane of the radome surrounding the radiating elements, so that the overall surface of a mast-shaped surface is as smooth and continuous as possible from the outside Construction results, without being guessable, whether components are contained in this construction and, if so, which components are accommodated.
• the service zone is constructed in such a way that it can be mounted on a stump head at which the necessary antenna cables leading to the antenna device end at an interface formed thereby.
• this mast stump is also referred to as mast base, mast base or also as antenna base or antenna base.
• the corresponding intermediate cables can be installed, which creates an electrical connection from the cables ending in the antenna base to the connection points in the upper area of the service zone for the cables leading to the radiators.
• Any necessary components such as amplifiers etc. can also be accommodated in these service zones.
• the amplifiers can be, for example so-called TMA's, so-called TMB's, etc.
• the power and fiber optic cables used can not only be reduced in number, but also, if necessary, in their necessary diameter cross section.
• the remote-controlled down-tilt setting devices for example correspondingly controllable motor units, can also be accommodated in the service zone, for example, which then control the phase shifters located within the radome for setting the different down-tilt angles via a transmission linkage.
• a second or more service zones arranged axially one above the other can be provided, which can also be retrofitted as independent modules if necessary.
• a single service zone can be provided, which for example has an axially greater height has and thus always creates enough space to accommodate additional components.
• the service zone is preferably fixable or detachable via screw connections in such a way that an axial turning movement of the service zone and thus of the mast structure located above it is possible even in a state secured by the screw connection. As a result, the antenna radiators can be aligned accordingly.
• Figure 1 an overall view of a mast-shaped antenna according to the invention
• Figure la a mast-shaped antenna according to the invention without a service zone with a radome (not shown) to illustrate the radiator elements located underneath;
• Figure 2 a prepared antenna base on which a mast-shaped antenna system is built;
• FIG. 3 a representation corresponding to FIG. 1, but with the service zone open and before mounting on the antenna base or antenna base;
• FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the antenna arrangement and its essential components in a perspective view directed from top to bottom;
• Figure 5 a corresponding exploded view of Figure 4, but from a bottom-up perspective;
• FIG. 6 an enlarged perspective detailed illustration to explain the fastening of the service zone on the antenna base
• FIG. 7 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 7 after the service zone with the mast construction resting thereon has been rotated by an angle
• Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view through the mast construction with the antenna elements seated inside;
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of a damping device at the overhead end of the mast structure including the cylindrical radome;
• Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view through the overhead cover with the damping device according to the invention for the radome in a modified embodiment
• Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view in the area of the lower end of the radome at the transition to the adjacent service zone;
• Figure 12 a modified construction to the representation according to Figure 9, shown in a vertical section;
• FIG. 13 an exemplary embodiment of a fully assembled antenna arrangement, comparable to FIG. 1, with opened cover covers to illustrate installed modules;
• FIG. 14 a further exemplary embodiment to illustrate the additional addition of a further service zone.
• Figure 15 another modified embodiment with a mast-shaped antenna base, which has a smaller outer diameter to the remaining antenna arrangement.
• an antenna arrangement 1 according to the invention is shown in a schematic perspective illustration, as can be considered in particular as a mobile radio antenna for a base station.
• the antenna arrangement 1 comprises an overhead antenna section 3 and at least one further, under subsequent antenna section 5, which comprises at least one service zone 5.1.
• the entire arrangement of the upper and axially adjoining lower antenna section 3, 5 is constructed and fastened on an antenna stand device 7, which serves as antenna base 7.
• This antenna base 7 does not necessarily have to have the mast-shaped design shown in FIGS. 1 ff., But can also have a larger or smaller diameter or a different cross-sectional shape or can also be designed, for example, as a connection point lying at the level of the ground, on which the antenna arrangement is then based 1 is mounted with the at least upper antenna section 3 and the at least one lower antenna section 5.
• the antenna section 3 is shown with the radome 41 partially omitted in order to show the radiators 6 located underneath it, which in the exemplary embodiment shown are each arranged in a plurality of columns offset in the circumferential direction and vertically offset one above the other.
• FIG. 2 shows the cylindrical antenna base 7 in the present case, which is generally created on site.
• This antenna base is firmly anchored to or in the ground.
• the connection lines 11 required for the operation of the antenna are routed through this antenna base itself, which preferably end in the region of the upper end of the antenna base 7 and are preferably provided with a connection unit, in particular a connection plug-in connection unit 13 there.
• These connector plugs 13 are held by a holding and strain relief device 15 in the region of the upper end of the antenna base 7 provided with an outlet, passage or access opening 17.
• the upper end of the antenna base 7 explained can also be understood as an interface 19, on which the antenna arrangement 1, which is usually prefabricated by the manufacturer, is then mechanically placed directly and firmly connected to the antenna base 7 (FIG. 3).
• the cross-sectional shape and cross-sectional size in the region of the antenna base 7, the explained lower antenna section 5 with the at least one service zone 5.1 provided there and the upper antenna section 3 are the same or substantially the same.
• the diameter is circular and the external dimensions are at least of the same order of magnitude, i.e. in the present exemplary embodiment, less than 20%, in particular less than 10% and above all less than 5% should deviate from one another. This gives the impression of a continuous mast construction, without it being immediately apparent what function this mast serves and whether certain components are housed inside.
• FIG. 4 shows the essential components of the antenna arrangement. between the antenna base 7 and the lower part of the upper antenna section 3 in an exploded view (with a viewing angle directed more from top to bottom) and in FIG. shown angle, which is rather directed from bottom to top.
• the illustrated service zone 5.1 in the exemplary embodiment shown is cylindrical in shape, specifically with an upper and a lower end or connection side 5.1 a and 5.1 b.
• connection point 5.1 b located below, the service zone 5.1 can be firmly connected by means of screws 25 to the upward-facing connection side 7.1 of the antenna base 7.
• connection side 3.1 is provided on the underside of the upper antenna section 3, via which a fixed mounting of the upper antenna section 3 on the lower antenna section 5 located below can also preferably be achieved again by means of a screw connection 27.
• the screw connections mentioned for the firm connection of the underside 3.1 of the upper antenna section 3 to the service zone 5 are made by screws.
• connection side 7.1 located at the top has a material ring 7.1 ′ which can be placed on the tubular outer construction of the antenna base 7 or can be part of this tubular antenna base 7.
• the tubular construction of the antenna base 7 ultimately 3 carries the total weight of the antenna array 1.
• connection point 7.1 in the circumferential are of "direction lying offset a plurality of threaded bores 29 is introduced.
• The-set-up thereon service zone 5.1 has, for receiving the supporting forces of the upper antenna portion a Construction with one above and one below lying connection ring 5.1 a 'and 5.1 b', which in the exemplary embodiment shown are fixedly connected via three material webs 31 which are offset outwards from the central central axis.
• circular elongated holes 33 are installed in the connection ring 5.1 b 'located at the bottom, which are dimensioned at least so long that in the elongated hole 33 two according to the angular distance of the threaded bore 29 Screws 25 can be screwed into the threaded holes 29 in the connecting ring 7.1a '.
• the screw heads are supported directly or via washers, for example a common washer 36, on the connection ring 5.1b ', since they have a larger diameter and cannot protrude through the elongated hole 33.
• the elongated hole 33 is designed in terms of its width so that only the screw shaft of the screws 25 can penetrate this elongated hole 33. Since in the present case the service zone 5.1 has three material webs 31 which are offset at the same angular distance in the circumferential direction, this creates three radial access openings 35, the meaning of which will be discussed below. In accordance with this design, three elongated holes 33, which are seated in the circumferential direction in the region of the respective access opening 35, are also formed in the connection ring 5.1 b 'located below. These elongated holes serve to ultimately be able to secure the antenna in different angular orientations.
• the supporting structure of the upper antenna section 3 is discussed below.
• the upper antenna section has a central support core 39, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is preferably triangular in cross-section, with webs or ribs running radially outward on the corner regions of this cross-sectionally triangular construction 40 connect.
• This support core 39 can be made from any material, for example from metal (under certain circumstances also as a continuous casting), from plastic or, for example, from fiberglass, etc. In principle, a very wide variety of materials can be considered.
• the radiators 6 are arranged offset one above the other in the vertical direction between the ribs 40.
• the webs projecting radially outward close then on the radome 41 which has a cylindrical shape in the exemplary embodiment shown.
• the radome consists of a material which allows the electromagnetic waves to pass through, preferably without any damping or only with little or minimal damping. Fiberglass is a suitable material for this.
• the support core 39 and the radome 41 can also be formed in one piece, that is to say they consist entirely of material, preferably fiberglass, which allows the electromagnetic waves to pass through.
• the radome 41 can, however, also be separated from the inner support core 39, in which case projections or grooves are preferably provided on the inner circumferential surface of the radome 41 in the region of the radially outward ends of the mentioned ribs or webs 40, by means of which the radome 41 is held against rotation ,
• the upper antenna section 3 is designed in such a way that the radome 41 is held in place by a damping arrangement 43 located at the top and at the bottom with a presettable or predefinable force with the interposition of a damping device 45.
• FIG. 9 for example, the upper end of this construction is shown in an exploded, exploded view. It can be seen from this that in the triangular construction of the support core 39, three vertical bores 39 'are provided, through which pull rods 39 "are passed using spacers, the spacers serving to ensure that the pull rods 39" do not match the inner wall of FIG Bore 39 'act alternately or can strike against it. 9 shows two of the longitudinal holes 39 ' is still shown without the tie rod 39 "inserted. Only in the hole 39 'at the front in FIG. 9 is a tie rod 39" already inserted, which still protrudes axially upward, that is to say has not yet been fully inserted into the bore 39'. The damping device 45 shown in FIG.
• the damping device 45 surrounds at least the upper edge 41a of the radome 41, as shown in the sectional view according to FIG. in that screws 48 are screwed through corresponding bores 47 in the upper cover-shaped pressure transducer 43, which are screwed into end bores of the mentioned tie rods 39 ′′, which penetrate the bores 39 ′ in the support core 39.
• the entire cover-shaped pressure transducer 46 is by means of a correspondingly shaped damping device 45 not only with the cylindrical radome 41 on the outside, but also with the inner support core 39 including the webs 40 leading outwards via the damping device 45 pressurized, which is why the damping device 45, ie the corresponding damper element, comprises an annular section 45a which can be placed on the upper edge of the radome, three radially inwardly running sections 45b which are offset in the circumferential direction (below which the webs 40 of the support core lie come) and in the middle has a single or multiple articulated damping section 45c, in which bores or extinguishers 45d are also introduced at the locations below which the bores 39 'lie in the support core 39.
• the damping device 45 ie the corresponding damper element
• the damping device 45. can be formed in one piece or in one piece or in several parts on each end face for damping holding of the radome 41.
• the construction on the underside is corresponding (FIG. 11). Overall, the construction is chosen so that in certain areas, by tightening the screws 48 mentioned, a pre-tensioning of the damping material lying in a predefined range is achieved, which, even at correspondingly high wind speeds, brings about the desired damping of the entire construction and, as a result, a rocking that destroys the system as a whole safely prevented.
• FIG. 12 only shows that the damping device 45 basically only has to be provided on the upper and lower edge region of the radome 41, and that the cover-shaped pressure sensor 43 in the exemplary embodiment shown can rest firmly on the support core 39 ,
• the attachment of the lower cover-shaped pressure sensor 43 ' is in principle comparable to the above-mentioned cover-shaped pressure sensor, the main difference being that in the case of the lower cover sensor this has further through openings 50 through which the corresponding connection cables and actuating devices from the Service zone 5.1 can be guided into the interior within the radome 41 in the upper antenna section 3.
• the access openings 35 can now be used to easily install the components that may be required there, to replace them during repair work, or to retrofit other components.
• three units 51 are shown which can represent, for example, amplifiers (TMA or TMB) or, for example, so-called RET units, which can be used for the remote-controllable setting and changing of the down-tilt angle.
• Such units can then be used, for example, to actuate an adjustment mechanism which adjusts the phase shifters located below the radome to produce the desired phase shifts in such a way that the desired down-tilt angle can be set.
• the antenna arrangement can in principle be supplemented by further service zones 5.2 etc. All service zones are preferred - even if they differ in their axial length - at least with regard to their connection sides located at the top and bottom, so that, for example according to FIG. 14, a further service zone 5.2 can be interposed axially.
• connection can be made from there as desired to the connection ends of the cables ending there on the underside of the upper antenna section 3 are further connection points which are made there to the individual radiating elements or phase shifters etc. If required, any electrical / electronic modules can be interposed, repaired, replaced or retrofitted.
• a cover 51 ' is indicated in the service zone 5.1.
• This can be a removable and / or, for example, a cover, preferably pivotable outward about a vertical axis of rotation, in order to provide free access to the service zone.
• the cover can also be simultaneously through a housing wall of a built-in module 51. As a result, the heat generated by the module can be dissipated to the outside particularly well.
• This cover 51 ' can be smaller than the total opening to the interior 36 of the service zone. Therefore, the cover can also be formed in two parts, namely include a cover frame, in which an opening is again made, in which the housing wall of the module then comes to rest as the cover end side.
• the antenna base 7 can also be designed differently in terms of its shape or dimensions, that is to say it is provided with a small diameter in this exemplary embodiment. This possibly offers the possibility of leading cables up the outside of such a mast-shaped antenna base 7 and then leading them from below into the interior space 36 into the service zone 5 on the underside of the first service zone 5.1 adjoining them.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Details Of Aerials (AREA)
• Support Of Aerials (AREA)
• Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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ID=34177327

Family Applications (1)

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Families Citing this family (6)

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• 2003
  • 2003-08-06 DE DE10336073A patent/DE10336073A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-12-17 CN CNU2003201285316U patent/CN2699491Y/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2004
  • 2004-02-25 TW TW093104736A patent/TW200507339A/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-07-22 BR BRPI0412998-9A patent/BRPI0412998A/pt active Search and Examination
  • 2004-07-22 ES ES04741221T patent/ES2279397T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-07-22 KR KR1020057021278A patent/KR101100977B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-07-22 EP EP04741221A patent/EP1606855B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-07-22 DE DE502004002676T patent/DE502004002676D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-07-22 WO PCT/EP2004/008203 patent/WO2005018042A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2004-07-22 AT AT04741221T patent/ATE352107T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

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