Active antenna

About: Active antenna is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2246 publications have been published within this topic receiving 26493 citations.

Active antenna adapted for impedance matching and band switching using a shared component

Abstract: An active antenna and associated circuit topology is adapted to provide active impedance matching and band switching of the antenna using a shared tunable component. Using a shared tunable component, such as a tunable capacitor or other tunable component, the antenna provides a low cost and effective active antenna solution. In certain embodiments, one or more passive components can be further utilized to design band switching of the antenna from a first frequency to a second desired frequency.

Calibration of active antenna arrays for mobile telecommunications

Abstract: In order to calibrate in amplitude and phase the individual transceiver elements (4) of an active antenna array for a mobile telecommunications network, each transceiver element including a transmit and a receive path (8, 10) coupled to an antenna element (12), each transceiver element includes a comparator (100) for comparing phase and amplitude of transmitted or received signals with reference signals in order to adjust the characteristics of the antenna beam. In order to provide an accurate means of reference signal distribution, a feed arrangement distributes the reference signals and includes a waveguide (50) of a predetermined length which is terminated at one end (52) in order to set up a standing wave system along its length, and a plurality of coupling points (56) at predetermined points along the length of the waveguide, which are each coupled to a comparator of a respective transceiver element.

An integrated active microstrip reflectarray element with an internal amplifier

Abstract: A new active microstrip reflectarray element (unit cell) with an internal microwave integrated circuit amplifier is introduced. The amplifier resides in a small slot within the footprint of the square patch antenna and is connected between the feed points for the patch's orthogonal polarizations. This element results in reduced array element spacing, reduced transmission line losses through elimination of long feed lines, and a simplified fabrication process compared to other active reflectarray unit cells. Patch geometries with several slot shapes are studied with simulations to arrive at an antenna configuration with good return loss and isolation characteristics. The stability and gain of the system are analyzed over frequency. Measured radiation pattern and gain data for a single element and a small array agree well with predictions and demonstrate the element's capabilities. Limitations of the active element, approaches to mitigate these limitations, and directions for future work are discussed.

Apparatus for measuring a radiation pattern of an active antenna arrangement

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a radiation pattern of an active antenna arrangement is provided, where the active antenna arrangement includes one or more radios having dedicated antenna elements in communication with each other. The apparatus has a common module external to the active antenna arrangement and a calibration radio, which is also external to the active antenna arrangement and coupled to the common module. The common module includes a transmit/receive unit and interfacing means for interfacing the common module with the active antenna arrangement, with the calibration radio and with a network node. The common module further includes a measurement device for measuring signals received from the active antenna arrangement.

Active antenna system

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an active antenna system which is flexibly configurable and efficient in operation. According to a first aspect of the present invention an active antenna system comprises a radio equipment having a plurality of transceiver modules, each transceiver module being connected to at least one antenna, and a radio equipment control unit having a hub being connected to the transceiver modules via an antenna interconnect. The hub is embodied for receiving base band signals via the antenna interconnect from the transceiver modules and to extract channel signals from the received base band signals. As the hub is arranged in the radio equipment control unit which is part of a base station the base band signals are transmitted to the radio equipment control unit without extracting the channel signals. This allows easily to distribute the base band signals on several data connections, particularly several antenna cables, of one antenna interconnect. This results in a reduced information loss and minimizes the requirements for the transmission capacity of a single data connection of the antenna interconnect between the radio equipment control unit and the radio equipment. The radio equipment control unit does receive all the information which is originally received by the transceiver modules.