EP1652267B1 - Antenna array - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an antenna arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.

In particular, the mobile radio antennas provided for a base station usually comprise an antenna arrangement with a reflector, in front of which a multiplicity of radiator elements are provided offset in the vertical direction relative to one another and thus form an array. These can radiate and receive, for example, in one or two mutually perpendicular polarizations. The radiator elements can be designed to receive only in a frequency band. However, the antenna arrangement can also be designed as a multi-band antenna, for example for transmitting and receiving two mutually offset frequency bands. Also so-called triband antennas are known in principle.

As is known, the mobile radio network is designed in the form of a cell, wherein each cell is assigned a corresponding base station with at least one mobile radio antenna for transmission and reception. The antennas are constructed so that They usually radiate at a certain angle relative to the horizontal with the main lobe downwards, whereby a certain cell size is determined. This lowering angle is also known as the downtilt angle.

From the WO 01/13459 A1 For this reason, a phase shifter arrangement has already been proposed in which, in the case of a single-column antenna array with a plurality of superposed radiators, the downtilt angle can be set continuously differently. According to this prior publication, differential phase shifters are used which, with different settings, cause the propagation time and thus the phase shift at the two outputs of a respective phase shifter to be adjusted in different directions, as a result of which the lowering angle can be set.

The adjustment and adjustment of the phase shift angle can be carried out manually or by means of a remotely controllable retrofit unit, as for example according to the DE 101 04 564 C1 is known.

A generic antenna arrangement is known from US 4,667,201 to be known as known. This prior art antenna basically comprises two mutually vertically offset radiator systems, each comprising a plurality of radiators. Each radiator belonging to a radiator are aligned and preset at a different angle to the horizontal. In order to set the scan direction angularly different, an electronics is also provided, with the main source through different intensity and distribution, based on the radiator of the two radiator systems, can be set differently.

That basically antennas in a mounting direction, for example, in the vertical orientation of a reflector, can be arranged nested to each other, for example, from US 5,923,296 known. These are antenna elements which comprise a horizontally polarized emitter and subsequently a vertically polarized emitter at a regular interval. It is a common arrangement of radiators in front of a reflector that radiate and / or receive in two different polarizations.

Finally, a dual polarized antenna arrangement is also known from US Pat EP 1 156 549 A2 known. In this prior publication, an antenna array is described in which a plurality of dual polarized radiators are provided, namely dual polarized radiator of a first radiator group and dual polarized radiator of a second radiator group. The radiators of the individual radiator groups are provided for different frequency bands.

As is usual for such antennas, the distance between two radiators of one polarization direction, such as the distance between two radiators of the other polarization direction, is on the order of one wavelength of the operating frequency. This corresponds to the general conditions known to the person skilled in the art, since it is known in antenna technology that in order to obtain the suitable vector diagrams, a vertical spacing of the individual radiators should be of the order of magnitude of one wavelength. Under this Prerequisite then the appropriate radiation patterns with desired half-width and side lobe attenuation can be achieved.

Although the setting of different downtilt angles by changing the phase position, which is supplied to the individual radiator elements, has basically proven, it is an object of the present invention to provide a contrast different and also simplified solution for setting different radiation angle, in particular downtilt angle and / or to open new possibilities of setting the emission angle.

The object is achieved according to the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

According to the present invention, a phase adjustment between two limit values can also be carried out without any problems. This is possible in the context of the invention alone by a corresponding power distribution. However, if, in addition to a power distribution, a time shift of the signals which are supplied to the individual radiators is also realized, it is even possible to pivot beyond the area of the system lobes.

According to the invention, an antenna is assumed that comprises at least two emitter systems, also referred to below as emitter groups, each emitter group being composed of several emitters. The radiators of the first radiator system are the radiators of the second radiator system with vertical offset and / or horizontal offset arranged alternately. In this case, furthermore, the spacing of the radiators interleaved with vertical and / or horizontal offset is chosen such that it lies in the region of half the wavelength of the operating frequency and not in the region of a whole wavelength, as is known from conventional antenna arrangements. This reduction of the antenna sticking distance "approximately by a factor of 2" makes it possible to achieve particularly useful individual diagrams with the lowest possible side lobes.

For example, if the one radiating element of a radiator group with a downtilt angle of 0 ° and a second radiator element of the second radiator group with a downtilt angle of 10 ° relative to the horizontal inclined downwards, so can with the antenna arrangement according to the invention any angle, i. So any downtilt angle between them can be adjusted continuously. With additional consideration of a temporal shift of the signals which are supplied to the radiators, pivoting beyond the region of the two system lobes is also possible.

In detail, this is done according to the invention in that an input signal to the various radiator elements, that is distributed to the at least two emitter elements provided offset to each other, wherein the individual portions of the (correlated) signals are supplied to the radiator elements with different amplitude. If the entire energy, for example, only the upper radiating with 0 ° relative to the horizontal radiating element supplied, the entire radiation of the main lobe in the horizontal direction. Will the total intensity of the supplied to the lower radiator device, which is preset, for example, with a downtilt angle of 10 °, so there is a radiation of the main lobe in this downwardly inclined 10 ° angle. If the energy is now continuously redirected from one more to the other emitter and thus supplied to both radiator groups or at least two radiator elements in different proportions, the intensity distribution of the at least two radiator elements supplied energy causes a continuous change in the orientation of the main lobe, explained in the Example can thus be set between 0 ° and a maximum of 10 ° with different angles of radiation with respect to the horizontal plane. However, if not only a power distribution of the two individual signals is made, but also a lateral displacement of the signals is realized, it can - as has already been pointed out - a pivoting over the area of the two system lobes also be realized.

The antenna array has compared to conventional antennas a significant, preferably by a factor of 2 closer occupancy of the radiator. Preferably, the vertically arranged radiators are alternately assigned to the two radiator groups, i. e.g. the lowermost radiator is assigned by means of feeding the first radiator group, the overlying radiator of the second radiator group, the third radiator from below again the first radiator group, etc. The two radiator groups are also referred to as sub-arrays.

If the corresponding radiator elements or their polarization direction is vertically aligned, it can thereby a different adjustment of the downtilt angle can be made. If the emitter elements are offset horizontally next to one another or their emitter or polarization plane is aligned in the horizontal direction, a different angular adjustment in the azimuth direction and not in the elevation direction can be made by the continuous different intensity supply of the signal. Again, taking into account an additional time shift in addition to a pure power distribution, a pivoting beyond the range of the two system lobes is also possible.

However, if, for example, an antenna array with at least two columns and with at least two radiator elements in each column is used, then a superimposed adjustment in both vertical and horizontal directions can be made in order to make a corresponding alignment of the main lobe in the room, and all this only by different intensity supply, ie by feeding the signal in different intensity for the individual radiator elements. Also different phase angles are conceivable.

Of course, the solution according to the invention is basically also possible when using radiator elements which radiate in two mutually perpendicular polarizations and are thereby preferably aligned in a + 45 ° or -45 ° angle relative to the horizontal (or vertical). Likewise, the principle not only in a single-band antenna, but also in a multi-band antenna can be implemented, having the appropriate radiator for two, three, etc. frequency bands.

In this case, it is also possible, for example, that the limit value defined by the basic setting of the radiator elements can be changed, for example, by mechanical adjustment, if appropriate also by mechanically remote-controllable different angle setting. In addition, an upper or lower limit value of the antenna arrangement can also be set so differently by additionally different phase setting that, in turn, any desired intermediate value of the main lobe alignment between the limit values predetermined in this way can be realized by the different intensity feed.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the supply of a corresponding antenna arrangement by means of a network, which realizes a power distribution to the intended radiator elements. This may, for example, be done in combination with a phase shifter, which in the simplest case again consists of a differential phase shifter, e.g. works together with a 3 dB 90 ° hybrid. At the input of the hybrid, however, the signals of equal amplitude are at different phase. At the output of the network, this causes the signals to be in phase there, but with different amplitudes. Thus, it is thus possible to realize a feed with the same phase and different amplitudes by different adjustment of the phase shifter upstream of the network by the different phase control.

But it is not only a vertical arrangement of the individual emitters and the joining to emitter groups with an alternating division possible, but also an arrangement of the emitter or emitter group, not one above the other, but are arranged side by side. In principle, other arrangements are conceivable, which differ from an only vertical or horizontal offset arrangement. Therefore, the utility of the invention is not limited to a variable or fixed change in the vertical orientation of the radiation pattern, but it can basically be an arrangement for controlling the horizontal alignment of the radiation lobe realized. For example, antennas and antenna systems are conceivable which produce two horizontal diagrams depending on the wiring of a network. By a suitable additional network proved similar as for the vertical case by means of a power distribution for a horizontal arrangement of the radiators all alignment between the directions of the two single lobes infinitely adjustable. If, in addition to a pure power distribution, a phase shift, that is to say a temporal shift of the signals, is generated, pivoting beyond the two system lobes can be carried out both in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction. With a corresponding combination of vertical and horizontal control, it is also possible to make a continuously changed orientation in the room.

Figur 1 :

eine schematische frontseitige Ansicht auf eine Antennenanordnung mit zwei übereinander angeordneten Strahlerelementen (Dipolstrahlern);

Figur 2 :

eine schematische Seitendarstellung der Antennenanordnung nach Figur 1 mit vorgeschaltetem Netzwerk mit einem 90°-Hybrid und einem Differenzphasenschieber zur Amplitudensteuerung;

Figur 3 :

eine schematische Ansicht der unterschiedlich voreingestellten Keulen der Antennenanordnung und der dazwischen beliebig einstellbaren, sich durch Überlagerung ergebenden Keule des Gesamtsystems;

Figur 4:

ein zu Figur 1 abgewandeltes Beispiel;

Figur 5:

ein entsprechendes Beispiel zur Einstellung eines unterschiedlichen Azimutwinkels für die Hauptkeule;

Figur 6 :

ein Beispiel einer entsprechenden unterschiedlichen Einstellung einer durch Überlagerung entstehenden Keule, die in Azimutund in Elevationsrichtung unterschiedlich einstellbar ist;

Figur 7 :

ein erstes erfindungsgemäßes Ausführungsbeispiel in schematischer Ansicht; und

Figur 8 :

ein weiteres schematisches Ausführungsbeispiel für ein erfindungsgemäßes Antennensystem mit wechselweise übereinander angeordneten Strahlern, wobei die beiden Strahlergruppen jeweils mit abwechselnd aufeinander folgenden Einzelstrahlern oder Strahlergruppen versehen sind, und die zugehörigen Reflektoren zumindest einer Strahlergruppe in einem anderen Winkel zu den Reflektoren der anderen Strahlergruppe ausgerichtet sind.

Further advantages, details and features of the invention will become apparent hereinafter from the embodiments illustrated with reference to drawings. In detail:

FIG. 1:

a schematic front view of an antenna assembly with two superimposed arranged radiating elements (dipole radiators);

FIG. 2:

a schematic side view of the antenna arrangement of Figure 1 with an upstream network with a 90 ° hybrid and a differential phase shifter for amplitude control;

FIG. 3:

a schematic view of the different preset lobes of the antenna assembly and the arbitrarily adjustable in between, resulting from overlapping lobe of the overall system;

FIG. 4:

an example modified to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5:

a corresponding example for setting a different azimuth angle for the main lobe;

FIG. 6:

an example of a corresponding different setting of a superimposed lobe, which is differently adjustable in azimuth and in the elevation direction;

FIG. 7:

a first embodiment according to the invention in a schematic view; and

FIG. 8:

a further schematic embodiment of an inventive antenna system with alternately stacked Emitters, wherein the two radiator groups are each provided with alternately successive individual radiators or radiator groups, and the associated reflectors are aligned at least one radiator group at a different angle to the reflectors of the other radiator group.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 described below, a basic structure of an antenna system will first be explained with reference to various examples, with antenna arrangements according to the invention being described subsequently with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic front view, an antenna arrangement with a vertically oriented reflector 1, in front of which two radiator devices 3 are arranged vertically one above the other, which are also referred to as emitters 3 in the following. In the exemplary embodiment shown, each of the two radiators 3 consists of a radiator group 3.1 or 3.2, which in the embodiment shown in each case comprises a dipole radiator 3.1 or 3.2 with vertical alignment. The antenna arrangement thus radiates in a vertical plane of polarization in a frequency band.

In FIG. 2, the antenna arrangement according to FIG. 1 is also reproduced in a side view only schematically for the purpose of illustrating the principle according to the invention. The two radiators 3 are in the illustrated embodiment of home (eg fixed) preset so (for example, by mechanical alignment) that the upper radiator 3.1 exactly in the horizontal direction and the lower radiator device 3.2, for example, with a downtilt angle α of 10 ° relative to the horizontal plane inclined downwards. This default can also be set by appropriate mechanical pre-adjustment. The main lobes 7.1 and 7.2 of the two radiator devices 3.1 and 3.2, which are also referred to below as radiator systems 3.1 and 3.2 are shown in Figure 2, as well as the respective associated horizontal plane eleventh

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the antenna arrangement formed in this way is fed via a network 13, which in the exemplary embodiment shown comprises a hybrid circuit 15, for example a 3 db 90 ° hybrid, which is preceded by a phase shifter 17, in the embodiment shown a differential phase shifter 17.

The control will be explained below in the illustrated embodiment, starting from the basic position in which the phase shifter 17 is in its neutral central position, at the input 15a or 15b of the hybrid circuit 15, the signals coming from the phase shifter with the same amplitude. If the phase shifter 17 is in its middle output or neutral position, then the signals are also present at the same phase position at the two inputs 15a and 15b of the hybrid circuit 15.

If, however, the phase shifter is now shifted to the left or right, for example according to the arrow representations 19, from the middle neutral position, then the phase position at the input 15a differs from that at the input 15b solely in that the signal coming from the phase shifter arrives earlier in the introduction branch 19a with a shortening of the electrical line and arrives later in the second branch 19b due to a larger path and a propagation delay caused thereby. This has the consequence that at the output of the network, ie at the output 15'a, 15'b, the corresponding signals are again present with the same phase, but with different amplitudes. If these now in-phase signals with the corresponding different amplitudes to the two radiator groups, ie the radiator device or radiator elements 3.1 and 3.2, given so receives depending on the position of the phase shifter, the upper radiator group 3.1 or the lower radiator group 3.2, ie in the present case, the upper Spotlight system 3.1. or the lower radiator device or the lower radiator system 3.2 a differently larger or smaller intensity component of the fed signal.

If the signal with its entire intensity would be supplied only to the upper radiator 3.1, the antenna array would radiate in exactly horizontal direction (since the lower radiator system 3.2 no energy is supplied at all). If the entire feed signal were supplied exclusively to the lower radiator system 3.2, then the entire antenna array would radiate exactly at the downtilt angle α of the exemplary embodiment shown, for example 10 °. But if now the signal with different intensity both the upper and the lower radiator system 3.1 and 3.2, so depending on the position of the phase shifter and thus depending on the different intensity distribution now a lowering of Radiation diagram and thus a reduction of the main beam lobe in the boundary interval of 0 ° and α = 10 ° can be set arbitrarily. In FIG. 3, the main lobes 18.1 and 18.2 are schematically illustrated, which reproduce the two radiation angles of the upper radiator element 3.1 and the lower radiator element 3.2 which are fixed by default. By means of the corresponding distribution of intensity to the upper and lower radiator systems 3.1, 3.2, a main lobe 18.3 can now be set at different interspacing angles in a far-field view by superposing the differently adjustable intensities of the main lobes 18.1 and 18.2.

If e.g. a control unit in the base station and / or a controllable auxiliary device used, for example in the form of a stepper motor, so the phase shifter 17 can be controlled accordingly and with respect to the antenna a desired reduction of the resulting radiation lobe can be easily adjusted.

On the basis of the illustrated embodiment according to the figures 1 to 3, therefore, a different adjustment of the resulting main overlay of the main lobe of the antenna assembly in the elevation direction is possible.

Likewise, however, a different emission angle adjustment in the horizontal direction, ie in the azimuth direction, can also be undertaken. For this purpose, reference is made to the embodiment of Figure 4, in which a corresponding antenna arrangement with two radiator systems 3.1 and 3.2 is described, however, now offset in the horizontal direction to each other. That the polarization plane It must not be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the reflector, but can also extend in another direction, for example transversely to the longitudinal direction of the reflector is also illustrated with reference to Figure 4, where the two horizontally aligned with lateral offset radiator systems 3.1 and 3.2 also vertically aligned again are, so radiate in a vertical polarization plane.

The supply is carried out according to Figure 5 also again a explained with reference to Figure 2 network 13. Again, by appropriate adjustment of the phase shifter from its central neutral position out of the hybrid circuit 15 at the two inputs 15a and 15b a signal with the same intensity, but different phase position are supplied, which means at the output 15'a and 15'b of the hybrid circuit 15 that the signal present there is now supplied with the same phase position, but different intensity the two radiator devices 3.1 and 3.2. If, for example, in this exemplary embodiment (FIG. 5 is intended to schematically reproduce the antenna arrangement with two radiator systems (radiator groups) 3.1 and 3.2, which are arranged next to one another in a horizontal plane), it is provided that the two radiators 3 of the radiator systems 3.1 and 3.2 each have an angle of - α and + α, for example from -15 ° and + 15 ° with respect to a mean vertical plane radiate outward, it can now be adjusted by appropriate intensity distribution, the beam direction of the main lobe between these two extreme values of -15 ° to + 15 °.

With reference to FIG. 6, an antenna array with two is now shown Columns 23a and 23b are shown, in which two superposed radiator systems 3.11 and 3.21 or radiators are provided in one column or 3.12 and 3.22 in the second column. In principle, these are ultimately four emitter groups 3.11 to 3.22 or emitter systems.

An input signal is now supplied to the input 17a of the first phase shifter 17, which generates a signal with the same phase position but different intensity according to its adjustment via the downstream hybrid circuit 15 at the output of the hybrid circuit 15. In the above example, the downtilt angle of the antenna array according to FIG. 6 is set again. However, the corresponding two signals are now via a corresponding circuit with a phase shifter 117a and 117b and a respective downstream hybrid circuit 115a and 115b again on the phase shifter 117a, 117b influenced so that at the output depending on the position of the phase shifter a greater or lesser intensity of the signal is applied to either the upper dipole radiator 3.11 or 3.12 and also a greater or lesser intensity to either the lower dipole radiator 3.21 or 3.22. In this exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6, the two phase shifters 117a and 117b are preferably coupled to one another in the second stage, so that the intensity distribution for the radiator elements in the left or right-hand gaps 23a, 23b are divided in the same proportion to one another.

By this arrangement, by appropriate input or adjustment of the phase shifter 17 in the first stage of the network in cooperation with the downstream hybrid 15 of the first stage of the downtilt angle and by corresponding actuation or adjustment of the phase shifters 117a and 117b with the respective associated hybrid circuits 115a, 115b in the second stage, a corresponding angular adjustment in the azimuth direction are made to the main lobe between the system prescribed predetermined radiation angles as a limit to be set arbitrarily in between. The corner or limit values for the different adjustable downtilt angle are basically given by the two system lobes. However, these limits can be overcome if, in addition, a separate phase shift is made for one or more radiator elements and the signal is supplied with a corresponding phase shift.

With reference to FIG. 7, an antenna arrangement according to the invention with a plurality of individual radiators 3 (ie radiator devices) is now shown, by way of example for two radiator groups, ie two radiator systems 3.1 and 3.2. Via a summation or branching circuit 27.1, a signal is respectively supplied to a group belonging to the first radiator system 3.1 and a corresponding signal of a group of radiators 3 belonging to a second radiator system 3.2 is supplied via a second summation or branching circuit 27.2, each alternately vertically one above the other are arranged. By way of example, a dipole radiator can be involved here, but also other emitters or emitter devices, for example patch emitters, etc. By means of a corresponding hybrid circuit and a phase shifter arrangement comparable to FIG. 2, an angle adjustment can be made, with the first emitter group starting from a predetermined downtilt angle. Angles of, for example, α = 0 °, 2 °, 4 ° etc. and the second radiator group with the second radiator device 3.2, for example, to a fixed downtilt angle of 10 °, 12 °, 16 °, etc. may be set. Between the limit values specified in this way, a downtilt angle can then only be set by the intensity distribution alone. Of course, a same arrangement can also be used according to the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 for the different orientation of the main lobe in the azimuth direction.

It is essential in the arrangement according to FIG. 7 that, compared with conventional antennas, a substantially narrower coverage of the radiators is realized, preferably the stagnation distance is smaller by a factor of 2 than in known antenna arrangements. The essential difference to the existing antenna arrangement is thus now that the distance of the individual radiators should preferably be in the range of half the wavelength of the operating frequency, rather than in the range of a whole wavelength, as is known from conventional antenna arrangements. By means of this reduction of the antenna sticking distance "approximately by a factor of 2", it is possible to produce particularly useful individual diagrams with the smallest possible side lobes. The spacing of the individual emitters should preferably be less than 90% relative to the entire wavelength, in particular less than 80%, less than 70% or less than 60% of a whole wavelength of the operating wavelength of an operating frequency (of a frequency band, ie of a value within the frequency band). Respectively. This results in the end for the antenna as a whole an arrangement in which the phase centers of the at least two antenna groups are relatively close to each other.

The construction of an antenna described on the basis of FIG. 7 and with reference to FIG. 8 described above results, above all, in the essential advantage that the phase centers of the radiator groups, in the exemplary embodiment shown, are the phase centers of the two radiator groups, ideally in one point. There is no direct dependence on the wavelength. Due to the explained construction of the antenna, however, it follows that the phase centers of, for example, the two mentioned radiator groups are at a distance which is smaller than half the wavelength of the frequency band to be transmitted, usually with reference to the center frequency of this frequency band. Above all, in such an antenna (corresponding to FIG. 7 and corresponding to FIG. 8 explained below), the phase centers of the (two) radiator groups (radiator systems) are at a distance of significantly less than half the wavelength, in particular at a distance of less than 80 %, in particular less than 60%, less than 40%, less than 20% or even less than 10%, based on half the wavelength, which is predetermined by the center frequency of the used frequency band.

In the following, reference will also be made to a further exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8.

According to FIG. 8, improved diagrams with reduced side lobes are achieved when the individual radiators of the emitter group with the main lobe lowered already have individual diagrams with a downtilt angle in the region of the desired downtilt of the entire emitter group.

Such a downtilt for the individual radiators can be achieved, for example, by the fact that the corresponding reflector region, as shown in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8, has the desired inclination. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8, therefore, a common reflector plane is not used, but reflectors assigned separately to the individual radiators are provided. The arrangement is again alternately constructed such that, for example, the first, third, fifth, seventh etc. emitters 3.1 ', 3.3', 3.5 'and 3.7' are fed via a line system 51 with corresponding power split 53, and that the superposed radiator 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. (ie the radiators 3.2 ', 3.4', 3.6 'and 3.8') of the first radiator system are fed via a line system 55 with subsequent power split 57. The odd radiators 3.1 ', 3.3', 3.5 ', etc., which belong to the second radiator system, for example, have associated reflectors 1, which are aligned in the vertical direction (but may also have a different angle thereto and be preset). The respective straight radiators 3.2 ', 3.4', 3.6 ', etc., have reflector systems 1' which are opposite the first radiators 3.1 ', 3.3', 3.5 'etc. of the second radiator system at a different angle, for example a presettable or mechanically changeable angle are set. The mechanical adjustment can also be remotely controlled via a remotely controllable adjustment module, which can set the reflectors shown in Figure 8 1 'of the second radiator groups as needed in different angular direction. This embodiment shows that an additional adjustment of individual radiators either electrically by different adjustment of a phase offset or can be done on the explained mechanical ways.

Further possibilities for lowering the individual diagrams are e.g. by the addition of parasitic radiator elements in the environment of the respective dipoles conceivable.

Preferably, the arrangement is in each case such that adjacent radiator elements are not or only slightly influenced by inclined reflector walls or parasitic radiator elements. For dipole radiators, this can be done e.g. achieve that the individual dipoles are isolated by partitions from each other.

With reference to the exemplary embodiments explained above according to FIGS. 7 and 8, an arrangement with a plurality of emitter systems is possible, which are embodied as areally arranged emitters in two mutually mutually appurtenant directions, preferably in two mutually perpendicular mounting directions, and are arranged interleaved with one another , preferably in an alternating arrangement. In this case, then a network 13 is provided, about which by means of a combination of vorzugsweiser vertical and horizontal actuation alignment of the main lobe in space is vornehmbar.

Claims (10)

1. Antenna arrangement having the following features:

   - at least two antenna element systems (3.1, 3.2) are provided, which each have a plurality of antenna elements (3),

   - the at least two antenna element systems (3.1, 3.2) are arranged with an offset with respect to one another in the horizontal and/or vertical direction, preferably in front of a reflector (1),

   - the at least two antenna element systems (3.1, 3.2) transmit and receive in at least one polarization plane,

   - the at least two antenna element systems (3.1, 3.2) are arranged and/or fed such that the main lobe (7.1) of the first antenna element system (3.1) and the main lobe (7.2) of the second antenna element system (3.2) include an angle (α) between one another,

   - a network (13) is provided via which the first antenna element system (3.1) and the second antenna element system (3.2) can be supplied with a signal whose intensities can be set differently relative to one another, so that a different angular transmission direction (α) is produced for the antenna arrangement by appropriate superimposition of the main lobes of the antenna elements (3) of the at least two antenna elements systems (3.1, 3.2), and

   - both antenna element systems (3.1, 3.2) have antenna elements (3) which transmit and/or receive with the same polarization,
   characterized by the following further features:

   - the antenna elements (3) in the first antenna element system (3.1) are arranged alternately with the antenna elements (3) in the second antenna element system (3.2), with a vertical offset and/or a horizontal offset, and

   - the distance between the antenna elements (3) which are arranged interleaved with a vertical and/or a horizontal offset is in the region of half the wavelength of the operating frequency.
2. Antenna arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the antenna arrangement comprises at least two columns (23a, 23b), with at least two antenna elements (3) being arranged one above the other in each column (23a, 23b), by which means the alignment direction of the main lobe, which is produced by superimposition, of the antenna arrangement can be adjusted in the elevation and azimuth directions.
3. Antenna arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the network has a hybrid circuit (15, 115a, 115b) and a phase shifter arrangement (17, 117a, 117b), such that the phase shifter arrangement (17, 117a, 117b) allows a signal preferably with the same intensity but at a different phase angle to be supplied to the inputs (15a, 15b) of the hybrid circuit (15, 115a, 115b) such that a signal at the same phase angle but with a different intensity is produced at the output (15'a, 15'b) of each of the hybrid circuits (15, 115a, 115b).
4. Antenna arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the phase shifter arrangement (17, 117a, 117b) is formed from a difference phase shifter.
5. Antenna arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the phase shifter arrangement (17, 117a, 117b) is formed from an arrangement with line paths of different length.
6. Antenna arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least two antenna element systems (3.1, 3.2) have two or more antenna elements (3) which are arranged interleaved with one another and alternately as antenna elements (3) which are arranged in a plane, in two fitting directions that are at an angle to one another, preferably in two fitting directions that are at right angles to one another, and in that a network (13) is provided, via which the main lobe can be aligned in space by means of a combination of preferably vertical and horizontal control.
7. Antenna arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that one antenna element system (3.1) is permanently preset with a transmission angle (downtilt angle).
8. Antenna arrangement according to Claim 7, characterized in that the antenna element systems (3.1, 3.2) have antenna elements (3) which each have an associated, separate reflector (1).
9. Antenna arrangement according to Claim 8, characterized in that the antenna elements (3) in one antenna element system (3.2) can be set to a different transmission angle (downtilt angle) to that of the antenna elements (3) in the other antenna element system (3.1).
10. Antenna arrangement according to Claim 9, characterized in that the transmission angles, which can be set differently, can be preset differently or can be varied, in particular can be varied mechanically, and can preferably be adjusted by means of a remotely controllable adjustment module.

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