EP4607695A1

EP4607695A1 - Mobile antenna device for providing a temporary radio cell

Info

Publication number: EP4607695A1
Application number: EP24159067.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefan Keller
Original assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
Current assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
Priority date: 2024-02-22
Filing date: 2024-02-22
Publication date: 2025-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2044-02-22
Also published as: EP4607695B1

Abstract

An antenna device for a cellular network, the antenna device comprising an antenna module having a plurality of cross-polarized, XPOL, antennas, and methods for defining an azimuthal transmission pattern of an antenna device.

Description

The invention relates to an antenna device for a cellular network, the antenna device comprising an antenna module having a plurality of cross-polarized, XPOL, antennas. The invention further relates to methods for defining an azimuthal transmission pattern of an antenna device.
Antenna devices of the above-mentioned type form part of the state of the art and are widely used for providing cellular networks with permanent radio access points, i.e., for creating a stationary radio cell of a cellular network, to be connected to by mobile devices, e.g., smartphones, tablets, vehicles and the like. However, providing a cellular network with a radio access point generally is a complex task requiring much effort and, hence, is very challenging and expensive.
The complexity and effort is particularly detrimental when the radio access point is to be provided temporarily only, e.g., during an event or during a maintenance of a permanent stationary radio access point.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an antenna device for a cellular network which allows for efficiently and economically providing the cellular network with a temporary radio access point. Another object of the invention is to suggest methods for defining an azimuthal transmission pattern of an antenna device.
One aspect of the invention is an antenna device for a cellular network, comprising an antenna module, the antenna module having a plurality of cross-polarized, XPOL, antennas. The XPOL antennas are configured for emitting and receiving, respectively, electromagnetic waves having orthogonal traversal polarizations.
According to the invention, the antenna module comprises six flat support plates, each support plate extending in a peripheral surface of a hexagonal cylinder, the XPOL antennas mounted on outer surfaces of the support plates, arranged in columns extending parallel to a symmetry axis of the hexagonal cylinder and connected in parallel within each column, and a hub unit operatively connected to each column and defining an azimuthal transmission pattern of the antenna device. The six flat support plates may form a continuous peripheral wall of the hexagonal cylinder, i.e., edges of neighboring support plates abut. Each column comprises at least two XPOL antennas and extends parallel to the abutting edges. The XPOL antennas of a column are operatively synchronized due to the connection in parallel.
The antenna module allows for covering a complete azimuthal surrounding of the antenna device due to the hexagonal arrangement of the support plates. More precisely, each support plate covers an azimuthal angle of 60° and, hence, the six support plates cover the full azimuthal angle of 360°.
The antenna module may be manufactured very economically using customary XPOL antennas. Moreover, the antenna module may be designed very compact which allows the antenna device for also being very compact and, hence, easy to handle during transportation, setup and removal.
In an embodiment, the azimuthal transmission pattern is defined hardwired and the antenna device is configured for exchanging the hub unit in order to allow for different azimuthal transmission patterns of the antenna device. In other words, the hub unit allows the antenna device for exactly one azimuthal transmission pattern which cannot be varied. With different hub units defining different azimuthal transmission patterns the azimuthal transmission pattern may nonetheless be easily adjusted to a surrounding by simply exchanging the hub unit. The antenna device may, hence, comprise a plurality of different hub units, i.e., a hub unit kit.
Alternatively, the azimuthal transmission pattern is defined adjustable and the antenna device is configured for configuring the hub unit in order to allow for different azimuthal transmission patterns of the antenna device. In other words, the hub unit is an integral part of the antenna device and may define a plurality of different azimuthal transmission patterns to be selected for adjusting the antenna device to a surrounding by configuring the hub unit.
Preferably, each XPOL antenna is arranged and configured for being operated both in a high frequency band and in a middle frequency band and/or for providing an azimuthal transmission angle in a range from 50° to 70° and preferably of 60° and/or a vertical tilt angle in a range from 7° to 3° and preferably of 5°. Of course, each given number of degrees is allowed to vary by up to 10%. The XPOL antenna exemplarily comprises a first antenna element for the high frequency band, e.g., an N78 antenna element for a frequency band at 3,6 GHz, and a second antenna element for the mid frequency band, e.g., a long term evolution, LTE, antenna element for frequency bands from 1,8 GHz to 2,6 GHz. Particularly, the XPOL antenna may comprise two first antenna elements and one second antenna element. The first antenna element and the second antenna element may have slightly different azimuthal transmission angles and/or vertical tilt angles. The azimuthal transmission angle may be also referred to as a beam width.
Each column may comprise exactly four XPOL antennas and/or XPOL antennas comprised by a column may be arranged at equal distances and/or XPOL antennas comprised by a column may have parallel orientations and/or each support plate comprises exactly two columns. Four XPOL antennas in a column allow for both a sufficient performance of the antenna device and a compact design of the antenna module. Each of the equidistant arrangement and the parallel orientation of the XPOL antennas of a column allows for a homogeneous radial and angular transmission coverage of the column. Two columns on each support plate allow for different operational modes of the XPOL antennas of the support plate.
The hub unit may be configured for independently operating each column of a support plate in a first operational mode providing a four trarnsmit four receive, 4T4R, sector. The 4T4R sector is a transmit and receive mode of the antenna device involving four transmitting antennas and four receiving antennas and allowing for a 4x4 multiple input multiple output, MIMO, communication between mobile devices and a radio access point. The fist operational mode of the support plate causes the support plate to provide an azimuthal transmission angle of 65° in a high frequency band and of 70° in a mid frequency band, respectively, due to the columns operating independently.
The hub unit may be configured for synchronously operating each column of a support plate in a second operational mode providing a two transmit two receive, 2T2R, sector. The 2T2R sector is a transmit and receive mode of the antenna device involving two transmitting antennas and two receiving antennas and allowing for a 2x2 MIMO communication between mobile devices and a radio access point. The second operational mode causes a support plate to provide an azimuthal transmission angle of 30° in a high frequency band and of 45° in a middle frequency band, respectively, due to the columns cooperating and constructively interfering.
Advantageously, the hub unit comprises an antenna circuitry for controlling the antenna module, the antenna circuitry comprising a plurality of impedance matching devices causing different attenuations, positive intrinsic negative, PIN, diodes, quarter-wave impedance transformers and/or N78/LTE-combiners. The combiners may also be referred to as duplexers or diplexers. The quarter-wave impedance transformers may be also referred to as λ/4 transmission lines or λ/4 wave guides. The indicated list of parts of the antenna circuitry is not limiting. The antenna circuitry may comprise further parts if useful or required. Controlling the antenna module comprises activating and/or deactivating the columns of XPOL antennas, i.e., determining a transmission pattern and/or an operational mode of the antenna device, in order to adapt the antenna device to requirements imposed by the surrounding of the antenna device and the expected load of the antenna device.
The antenna device may further comprise a cylindric housing which completely encloses the XPOL antennas. The cylindric housing protects the XPOL antennas from a detrimental impact of the surrounding of the antenna device.
Preferably, the antenna device comprises a telescopic pole supporting the antenna module. The telescopic pole has an extended state for supporting the antenna module in an operable state of the antenna device and a contracted state for supporting the antenna device in a transportable state of the antenna device.
The antenna device may particularly comprise a long term evolution, LTE, remote radio unit, RRU, a N78 RRU, a base band unit, BBU, connected to both the LTE RRU and the N78 RRU and to be connected to a core of cellular network and a power supply connected to the hub unit, the LTE RRU, N78 RRU and the BBU. The LTU RRU and the N78 RRU are configured for processing respective radio signals and providing respective transmit and receive sectors. The transmit and receive sectors shall not be misunderstood to be spatial sectors. Rather the transmit and receive sectors shall be understood to be logical sectors concerning communication connections between the antenna device and mobile devices. The BBU is configured for processing base band signals. The power supply is configured for providing components of the antenna device, e.g., the LTE RRU, theN78 RRU and the hub unit with respective required voltages.
In a favorable embodiment, the antenna device comprises a plurality of sensors arranged and configured for monitoring a surrounding of the antenna device and a safety unit connected to both the sensors and the hub unit and configured for causing the hub unit to attenuate the XPOL antennas of a support plate while a person is arranged in an angular sector of the monitored surrounding, the angular sector faced by the support plate. The sensors are configured and arranged for detecting the person and provide the safety unit with sensor signals indicating the angular sector where the person is arranged. For instance, the sensors may comprise a camera, an infrared, IR, sensor, a light detection and ranging, LIDAR, sensor, an ultrasonic sensor and/or a Doppler radio detection and ranging, RADAR, sensor. Attenuating the XPOL antennas results in reducing a transmission power of the XPOL antennas, the reduced transmission power being harmless to a human health. Thus, the safety unit ensures the antenna device to be in conformity with legal provisions concerning health protection. Of course, the power supply also provides the safety unit with a voltage required by the safety unit.
It is preferred that the antenna device comprises a cuboid container completely enclosing the antenna module, the hub unit, the sensors, the safety unit, the BBU, the LTE RRU, the N78 RRU, the power supply, the sensors and/or the telescopic pole in a contracted state. The cuboid container protects the antenna device from a detrimental impact of the surrounding of the antenna device or from a damage caused by a transportation of the antenna device. Due to the cuboid container the antenna device has a compactness significantly facilitating a handling of the antenna device.
Another aspect of the invention is a first method for defining an azimuthal transmission pattern of an antenna device.
According to the invention, a hub unit of an inventive antenna device is exchanged in order to allow for different azimuthal transmission patterns of the antenna device, the hub unit defining hardwired the azimuthal transmission pattern of the antenna device.
Still another aspect of the invention is a second method for defining an azimuthal pattern of an antenna device.
According to the invention, a hub unit of an inventive antenna device is configured in order to allow for different azimuthal transmission patterns of the antenna device, the hub unit defining adjustable the azimuthal transmission pattern of the antenna device.
An essential advantage of the inventive antenna device is that it allows for efficiently and economically providing a temporary radio access point of a cellular network. The inventive antenna device is easy to handle, i.e., facilitates a transportation thereof and avoids or at least reduces significantly an effort for putting the antenna device into operation.
It shall be understood that the features described previously and to be described subsequently may be used not only in the indicated combinations but also in different combinations or on their own without leaving the scope of the present invention.
The invention is described in detail by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like components are indicated by like reference numerals throughout the drawings. Therein:

Fig. 1: schematically shows a partial diagram of an antenna device according to a first embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2: schematically shows a top view of a first azimuthal transmission pattern provided by the antenna device shown by fig. 1;
Fig. 3: schematically shows a top view of a second azimuthal transmission pattern provided by the antenna device shown by fig. 1;
Fig. 4: schematically shows a top view of a third azimuthal transmission pattern provided by the antenna device shown by fig. 1;
Fig. 5: schematically shows a top view of a fourth azimuthal transmission pattern provided by the antenna device shown by fig. 1;
Fig. 6: schematically shows a top view of a fifth azimuthal transmission pattern provided by the antenna device shown by fig. 1;
Fig. 7: schematically shows a top view of a sixth azimuthal transmission pattern provided by the antenna device shown by fig. 1;
Fig. 8: schematically shows a top view of a seventh azimuthal transmission pattern provided by the antenna device shown by fig. 1;
Fig. 9: schematically shows a top view of an eighth azimuthal transmission pattern provided by the antenna device shown by fig. 1;
Fig. 10: schematically shows a partial circuitry of a hub unit of an antenna device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a partial diagram of an antenna device 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The antenna device 1 comprises an antenna module 10.
The antenna module 10 has a plurality of cross-polarized, XPOL, antennas 100. Each XPOL antenna 100 is preferably arranged and configured for being operated both in a high frequency band and in a middle frequency band. Each XPOL antenna 100 may further be arranged and configured for providing an azimuthal transmission angle in a range from 50° to 70° and preferably of 60°. Favorably, each XPOL antenna 100 may be arranged and configured for providing a vertical tilt angle in a range from 7° to 3° and preferably of 5°.
The antenna module 10 further has six flat support plates 101. Each support plate 101 extends in a peripheral surface of a hexagonal cylinder. The XPOL antennas 100 are mounted on outer surfaces of the support plates 101, arranged in columns 102 extending parallel to a symmetry axis of the hexagonal cylinder and connected in parallel within each column 102.
Each support plate 101 may comprise exactly two columns 102. Each column 102 may comprise exactly four XPOL antennas 100. XPOL antennas 100 comprised by a column 102 may be arranged at equal distances. XPOL antennas 100 comprised by a column 102 preferably have parallel orientations.
The antenna device 1 also comprises a hub unit 11 operatively connected to each column 102 and defining an azimuthal transmission pattern 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 (see figs. 2 to 9 for examples) of the antenna device 1. The azimuthal transmission pattern 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 may be defined hardwired and the antenna device 1 may be configured for exchanging the hub unit 11 in order to allow for different azimuthal transmission patterns 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 of the antenna device 1.
The hub unit 11 is particularly configured for independently operating each column 101 of a support plate 10 in a first operational mode providing a four trarnsmit four receive, 4T4R, sector 40.
Alternatively or additionally, the hub unit 11 may be configured for synchronously operating each column 101 of a support plate 10 in a second operational mode providing a two transmit two receive, 2T2R, sector 41.
The hub unit 11 comprises an antenna circuitry 110 for controlling the antenna module 10, the antenna circuitry 110 comprising a plurality of impedance matching devices 111, 112 causing different attenuations, and/or N78/LTE-combiners 113.
The antenna module 10 may comprise a cylindric housing 103 which completely encloses the XPOL antennas 100.
The antenna device 1 preferably comprises a telescopic pole supporting the antenna module 10. The antenna device 1 may further comprise a long term evolution, LTE, remote radio unit, RRU, 13, a N78 RRU 14, a base band unit, BBU, 15 connected to both the LTE RRU 13 and the N78 RRU 14 and to be connected to a core 2 of a cellular network and a power supply connected to the hub unit 11, the LTE RRU 13, the N78 RRU 14 and the BBU 15.
Favorably, the antenna device 1 comprises a plurality of sensors 120, 121, 122 arranged and configured for monitoring a surrounding of the antenna device 1 and a safety unit 12 connected to both the sensors 120, 121, 122 and the hub unit 11. The sensors 120, 121, 122 may be configured as a camera, an IR sensor and a LIDAR sensor, respectively. Additionally or alternatively, the sensors may comprise an ultrasonic sensor and/or a Doppler RADAR sensor. The safety unit 12 is configured for causing the hub unit 11 to attenuate the XPOL antennas 100 of a support plate 101 while a person is arranged in an angular sector of the monitored surrounding, the angular sector faced by the support plate 101.
The antenna device 1 comprises a cuboid container completely enclosing the antenna module 10, the hub unit 11, the sensors 120, 121, 122, the safety unit 12, the LTE RRU 13, the N78 RRU 14, the BBU 15, the power supply and/or the telescopic pole in a contracted state.
The azimuthal transmission pattern 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 of an antenna device 1 may be defined by carrying out a first method according to the invention as follows.
The hub unit 11 of the antenna device 1 is exchanged in order to allow for different azimuthal transmission patterns 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 of the antenna device 1.
Fig. 2 schematically shows a top view of a first azimuthal transmission pattern 31 provided by the antenna module 10 of the antenna device 1 shown by fig. 1.
The first azimuthal transmission pattern 31 covers the full azimuthal angle of 360° and provides one 4T4R sector 40 having a beam width of 360°. The first azimuthal transmission pattern 31 is created by independently operating each column 102 of XPOL antennas 100 of each support plate 101. The first azimuthal transmission pattern 31 may have a gain of about 8 dBi, decibel isotropic, both in the high frequency band and in the middle frequency band.
Fig. 3 schematically shows a top view of a second azimuthal transmission 32 pattern provided by the antenna device 1 shown by fig. 1. The second azimuthal transmission pattern 32 covers half of the full azimuthal angle of 360° and provides one 4T4R sector 40 having a beam width of 180°. The second azimuthal transmission pattern 32 is created by independently operating the columns 102 of XPOL antennas 100 of two neighboring support plates 101 and adjacent columns 102 of XPOL antennas 100 of each adjacent support plate 101. The second azimuthal transmission pattern 32 may have gain of about 11 dBi, decibel isotropic, both in the high frequency band and in the middle frequency band.
It is noted that the second transmission pattern 32 is preferred over a transmission pattern involving three neighboring support plates 101 completely. While the latter transmission pattern also covers half of the full azimuthal angle of 360° the provided coverage is less homogeneous and particularly has deficient edge zones.
Fig. 4 schematically shows a top view of a third azimuthal transmission pattern 33 provided by the antenna device 1 shown by fig. 1. The third azimuthal transmission pattern 33 covers two opposite angular sectors 3 of 30° in the high frequency band and 45° in the middle frequency band and provides two 2T2R sectors 41 having a beam width of 30° in the high frequency band and 45° in the middle frequency band. The third azimuthal transmission pattern 33 is created by synchronously operating the XPOL antennas 100 of both columns 102 of two opposite support plates 101. The third azimuthal transmission pattern 33 may have gain of about 17 dBi, decibel isotropic, both in the high frequency band and in the middle frequency band.
Fig. 5 schematically shows a top view of a fourth azimuthal transmission pattern 34 provided by the antenna device 1 shown by fig. 1. The fourth transmission pattern 34 operatively corresponds to the third transmission pattern 33 shown in fig. 4. However, the two angular sectors 3 form an obtuse angle of 120° instead of the straight angle of 180°.
Fig. 6 schematically shows a top view of a fifth azimuthal transmission pattern 35 provided by the antenna device 1 shown by fig. 1. The fifth azimuthal transmission pattern 35 covers two angular sectors 3 of 65° in the high frequency band and 70° in the middle frequency band and provides two 4T4R sectors 40 having a beam width of 65° in the high frequency band and 70° in the middle frequency band. The fifth azimuthal transmission pattern 35 is created by independently operating the XPOL antennas 100 of each column 102 of two neither opposite nor adjacent support plates 101. The fifth azimuthal transmission pattern 35 may have gain of about 14 dBi, decibel isotropic, both in the high frequency band and in the middle frequency band.
Fig. 7 schematically shows a top view of a sixth azimuthal transmission pattern 36 provided by the antenna device 1 shown by fig. 1. The sixth transmission pattern 36 operatively corresponds to the fifth transmission pattern 35 shown in fig. 6. However, the sixth azimuthal transmission pattern comprises an additional third angular sector 3 neither opposite nor adjacent to each other angular sector 3, thus, providing three 4T4R sectors 40.
Fig. 8 schematically shows a top view of a seventh azimuthal transmission pattern 37 provided by the antenna device 1 shown by fig. 1. The seventh azimuthal transmission pattern 37 corresponds to the fourth azimuthal transmission pattern 34 shown by fig. 5. However, the seventh azimuthal transmission pattern comprises an additional third angular sector 3 between the two angular sectors 3 of the fourth azimuthal transmission pattern 34, thus, covering half of the full azimuthal angle of 360° and providing three 2T2R sectors 41.
Fig. 9 schematically shows a top view of an eighth azimuthal transmission pattern 38 provided by the antenna device 1 shown by fig. 1. The eighth azimuthal transmission pattern 38 corresponds to the seventh azimuthal transmission pattern 37 shown by fig. 8. However, the eighth azimuthal transmission pattern 38 doubles the seventh azimuthal transmission pattern 37, thus, covering the full azimuthal angle of 360° and providing six 2T2R sectors 41.
Fig. 10 schematically shows a partial circuitry 110 of a hub unit 11 of an antenna device 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The antenna device 1 has the basic structure of the antenna device shown in fig. 1. However, the azimuthal transmission pattern 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 is defined adjustable and the antenna device 1 is configured for configuring the hub unit 11 in order to allow for different azimuthal transmission patterns 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 of the antenna device 1.
The antenna circuitry 110 may comprise a plurality of positive intrinsic negative, PIN, diodes 114 and/or quarter-wave impedance transformers 115.
The azimuthal transmission pattern 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 of an antenna device 1 may be defined by carrying out a second method according to the invention as follows.
The hub unit 11 of the antenna device 1 is configured in order to allow for different azimuthal transmission patterns 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 of the antenna device 1.

Reference Numerals

1: antenna device
10: antenna module
100: XPOL antenna
101: support plate
102: column
103: cylindric housing
11: hub unit
110: antenna circuitry
111: impedance matching device causing a first attenuation
112: impedance matching device causing a second attenuation
113: N78/LTE-combiner
114: PIN diode
115: quarter-wave impedance transformer
12: safety unit
120: sensor, camera
121: sensor, IR sensor
122: sensor, LIDAR
13: LTE RRU
14: N78 RRU
15: BBU
2: core
3: angular sector
31: first transmission pattern
32: second transmission pattern
33: third transmission pattern
34: fourth transmission pattern
35: fifth transmission pattern
36: sixth transmission pattern
37: seventh transmission pattern
38: eighth transmission pattern
40: 4R4T sector
41: 2T2R sector

Claims

An antenna device (1), comprising an antenna module (10), the antenna module (10) having a plurality of cross-polarized, XPOL, antennas (100), six flat support plates (101) each support plate (101) extending in a peripheral surface of a hexagonal cylinder, the XPOL antennas (100) mounted on outer surfaces of the support plates (101), arranged in columns (102) extending parallel to a symmetry axis of the hexagonal cylinder and connected in parallel within each column (102), and a hub unit (11) operatively connected to each column (102) and defining an azimuthal transmission pattern (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of the antenna device (1).
The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the azimuthal transmission pattern (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) is defined hardwired and the antenna device (1) is configured for exchanging the hub unit (11) in order to allow for different azimuthal transmission patterns (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of the antenna device (1).
The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the azimuthal transmission pattern (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) is defined adjustable and the antenna device (1) is configured for configuring the hub unit (11) in order to allow for different azimuthal transmission patterns (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of the antenna device (1).
The antenna device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each XPOL antenna (100) is arranged and configured for being operated both in a high frequency band and in a middle frequency band and/or for providing an azimuthal transmission angle in a range from 50° to 70° and preferably of 60° and/or a vertical tilt angle in a range from 7° to 3° and preferably of 5°.
The antenna device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hub unit (11) is configured for independently operating each column (101) of a support plate (10) in a first operational mode providing a four transmit four receive, 4T4R, sector (40).
The antenna device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hub unit (11) is configured for synchronously operating each column (101) of a support plate (10) in a second operational mode providing a two transmit two receive, 2T2R, sector (41).
The antenna device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each column (102) comprises exactly four XPOL antennas (100) and/or XPOL antennas (100) comprised by a column (102) are arranged at equal distances and/or XPOL antennas (100) comprised by a column (102) have parallel orientations and/or each support plate (101) comprises exactly two columns (102).
The antenna device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the hub unit (11) comprises an antenna circuitry (110) for controlling the antenna module (10), the antenna circuitry (110) comprising a plurality of impedance matching devices (111, 112) causing different attenuations, positive intrinsic negative, PIN, diodes (114), quarter-wave impedance transformers (115) and/or N78/LTE-combiners (113).
The antenna device according to one of claims 1 or 8, wherein the antenna module (10) comprises a cylindric housing (103) which completely encloses the XPOL antennas (100).
The antenna device according to one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a telescopic pole supporting the antenna module (10).
The antenna device according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a long term evolution, LTE, remote radio unit, RRU, (13), a N78 RRU (14), a base band unit, BBU, (15) connected to both the LTE RRU (13) and the N78 RRU (14) and to be connected to a core (2) of a cellular network and a power supply connected to the hub unit (11), the LTE RRU (13), the N78 RRU (14) and the BBU (15).
The antenna device according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a plurality of sensors (120, 121, 122) arranged and configured for monitoring a surrounding of the antenna device (1) and a safety unit (12) connected to both the sensors (120, 121, 122) and the hub unit (11) and configured for causing the hub unit (11) to attenuate the XPOL antennas (100) of a support plate (101) while a person is arranged in an angular sector of the monitored surrounding, the angular sector faced by the support plate (101).
The antenna device according to one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a cuboid container completely enclosing the antenna module (10), the hub unit (11), the sensors (120, 121, 122), the safety unit (12), the LTE RRU (13), the N78 RRU (14), the BBU (15), the power supply and/or the telescopic pole in a contracted state.
A method for defining an azimuthal transmission pattern (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of an antenna device (1), wherein a hub unit (11) of an antenna device (1) according to one claims 1 to 13 is exchanged in order to allow for different azimuthal transmission patterns (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of the antenna device (1), the hub unit (11) defining hardwired the azimuthal transmission pattern of the antenna device (1).
A method for defining an azimuthal transmission pattern (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of an antenna device (1), wherein a hub unit (11) of an antenna device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13 is configured in order to allow for different azimuthal transmission patterns (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of the antenna device (1), the hub unit (11) defining adjustable the azimuthal transmission pattern (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of the antenna device (1).