CN216980849U

CN216980849U - Dual beam base station antenna with multiple subarray layouts for low cost applications

Info

Publication number: CN216980849U
Application number: CN202220746218.1U
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·邦加; K·S·卡萨尼; 吴利刚; L·珀拉伊
Original assignee: Commscope Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Outdoor Wireless Network Co ltd
Priority date: 2022-03-31
Filing date: 2022-03-31
Publication date: 2022-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-31

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a dual beam base station antenna with diverse sub-array layouts therein for low cost applications. A dual beam base station antenna comprising: a multi-panel reflector having a first sub-array feed plate and a second sub-array feed plate mounted to a first panel thereof, and a plurality of radiating elements arranged in at least three columns of radiating elements on the first panel. The plurality of radiating elements includes: (i) a first sub-array of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel, and attached at respective vertices of a triangle on the first sub-array feed plate when the first sub-array feed plate is viewed in plan, and (ii) a second sub-array of at least two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to the second sub-array feed plate.

Description

Dual beam base station antenna with multiple subarray layouts for low cost applications

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to radio communications, and more particularly to dual beam base station antennas for use in cellular and other communication systems.

Background

Cellular communication systems are well known in the art. In a typical cellular communication system, a geographical area is divided into a series of regions known as "cells", and each cell is served by a base station. The base station may include base band equipment, radios, and base station antennas configured to provide two-way radio frequency ("RF") communication with subscribers located throughout the cell. In many cases, a cell may be divided into multiple "sectors," and separate base station antennas provide coverage for each of the sectors. Base station antennas are often mounted on towers or other elevated structures, with the radiation beam ("antenna beam") produced by each antenna directed outwardly to serve a corresponding sector. Typically, a base station antenna comprises one or more phased arrays of radiating elements, wherein the radiating elements are arranged in one or more vertical columns when the antenna is mounted for use. Here, "vertical" refers to a direction perpendicular with respect to a plane defined by the horizon.

A common base station configuration is a "three sector" configuration, in which the cell is divided into three 120 ° sectors in the azimuth plane, and the base station includes three base station antennas that provide coverage for the three respective sectors. The azimuth plane refers to a horizontal plane parallel to the plane defined by the horizon that bisects the base station antenna. In a three sector configuration, the antenna beam produced by each base station antenna typically has a half power beamwidth ("HPBW") of about 65 ° in the azimuth plane, such that the antenna beam provides good coverage throughout a 120 ° sector. Typically, each base station antenna will include a vertically extending column of radiating elements that together produce an antenna beam. Each radiating element in a column may have an HPBW of approximately 65 ° such that the antenna beam produced by the column of radiating elements will provide coverage for a 120 ° sector in the azimuth plane. The base station antenna may comprise a plurality of columns of radiating elements operating in the same or different frequency bands.

Most modern base station antennas also include remotely controlled phase shifter/power divider circuits along the RF transmission path through the antenna that allow a phase taper (phase taper) to be applied to the subcomponents of the RF signal supplied to the radiating elements in the array. By adjusting the amount of phase taper applied, the resulting antenna beam may be electronically tilted to a desired degree in a vertical or "elevation" plane. This technique can be used to adjust how far the antenna beam extends outward from the antenna and, therefore, can be used to adjust the coverage area of the base station antenna.

Sector splitting refers to techniques in which the coverage area of a base station is divided into more than three sectors, such as six, nine, or even twelve sectors in the azimuth plane. A six sector base station will have six 60 sectors in the azimuth plane. Splitting each 120 sector into two sub-sectors increases system capacity because each antenna beam provides coverage for a smaller area and may therefore provide higher antenna gain and/or allow frequency reuse within the 120 sector. In a six sector splitting application, a single dual beam antenna is typically used for each 120 sector. The dual beam antenna generates two separate antenna beams each having a reduced size in the azimuth plane and each pointing in a different direction in the azimuth plane, thereby splitting the sector into two smaller sub-sectors. The antenna beams produced by the dual-beam antenna used in the six-sector configuration preferably have azimuth HPBW values of, for example, between about 27-39 deg., and the pointing directions of the first and second sector-split antenna beams in the azimuth plane are typically about-27 deg. and about 27 deg., respectively.

Several approaches have been used to implement a dual-beam antenna providing coverage to respective first and second sub-sectors of a 120 ° sector in the azimuth plane. In a first approach, a first and a second column of radiating elements are mounted on both main faces of a V-shaped reflector. The smaller angle defined by the "V" shaped reflector may be about 54 ° so that the two columns of radiating elements are mechanically positioned or "steered" to point at azimuth angles of about-27 ° and 27 °, respectively (i.e., toward the middle of the corresponding sub-sector). Since the azimuth HPBW of a typical radiating element is typically suitable for covering the entire 120 ° sector, an RF lens is mounted in front of the two columns of radiating elements that narrows the azimuth HPBW of each antenna beam by a suitable amount for providing coverage of the 60 ° sub-sector. Unfortunately, however, the use of RF lenses may increase the size, weight, and cost of the base station antenna. Furthermore, because the degree to which the RF lens narrows the beamwidth varies with frequency, the use of RF lenses may make it difficult to obtain suitable coverage when using broadband radiating elements that operate over a wide frequency range (e.g., radiating elements that operate over the entire 1.7-2.7GHz cellular frequency range).

In a second approach, two or more columns (typically 2-4 columns) of radiating elements are mounted on a planar reflector such that each column points in the boresight direction of the antenna (i.e., the boresight direction of a base station antenna refers to the horizontal axis extending from the base station antenna to the center in the azimuth plane of the sector served by the base station antenna). Two RF ports (per polarization) are coupled to all columns of radiating elements through a beam forming network such as a butler matrix. The beam forming network generates two separate antenna beams (per polarization) based on RF signals input at the two RF ports, and the antenna beams are electronically steered to the boresight pointing directions of the antenna at azimuth angles of about-27 ° and 27 ° to provide coverage for the two sub-sectors. In the case of such a dual-beam antenna based on a beam forming network, the pointing angle in the azimuth plane of each antenna beam and the HPBW of each antenna beam may vary as the frequency of the RF signals input at the two RF ports varies. In particular, the azimuth pointing direction of the antenna beam (i.e., the azimuth angle in which the peak gain occurs) tends to move toward the boresight pointing direction of the antenna, and the azimuth HPBW tends to become smaller with increasing frequency. This may result in a large frequency-dependent variation in the power level of the antenna beam at the outer edges of the sub-sectors, which is undesirable.

In a third approach, a multi-column array of radiating elements (typically three columns per array) is mounted on each outer panel of a V-shaped reflector to provide a sector splitting dual beam antenna. The antenna beams produced by each multi-column array may be small compared to the lens and beam forming based dual beam antenna discussed above, varying as a function of frequency. Unfortunately, such sector-split antennas may require a large number of radiating elements, which increases the cost and weight of the antenna. Furthermore, including six columns of radiating elements may increase the width required for the antenna, and the V-shaped reflector may increase the depth of the antenna, both of which may be undesirable.

In general, cellular operators desire dual-beam antennas with azimuth HPBW values anywhere between 30 ° -38 °, as long as the azimuth HPBW does not vary significantly (e.g., more than 12 °) across the operating band. Likewise, the azimuth pointing angle of the antenna beam peak may vary anywhere between +/-26 ° to +/-33 °, as long as the azimuth pointing angle does not vary significantly (e.g., more than 4 °) across the operating frequency band. The peak azimuth sidelobe level should be at least 15dB below the peak gain value.

Referring now to fig. 1A-1B, a conventional dual-beam base station antenna 100 is illustrated as including a V-shaped reflector 102 having a total of six (6) columns of cross-polarized radiating elements mounted on a forward-facing surface of the V-shaped reflector 102. As best shown by the cross-sectional view of fig. 1B, the V-shaped reflector 102 includes a first panel 102a and a second panel 102B, the first panel 102a and the second panel 102B being joined together at an apex V (and longitudinal axis) of the reflector 102 when viewed from an end perspective.

The first panel includes a first ("inner") linear column C1 of seven radiating elements 110, a second ("middle") linear column C2 of seven radiating elements 110, and a third ("outer") linear column C3 of seven radiating elements 110, which collectively define a first array 120a of twenty-one (21) radiating elements 110. As shown, the radiation elements 110 in the second column C2 are offset in the longitudinal direction relative to the radiation elements 110 in the first and third columns C1, C3 such that the radiation elements 110 in the first and third columns C1, C3 are aligned with

rows

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 of the first array 120a, and the radiation elements 110 in the second column C2 are aligned with

rows

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 of the first array 120 a. Further, the twenty-one radiating elements 110 in the first array 120a are grouped into seven sub-arrays 130 of three radiating elements 110 per sub-array 130, which are mounted on a triangular sub-array feed plate 132 and receive corresponding RF signals from the triangular sub-array feed plate 132. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, for each polarization, each of these sub-array feed plates 132 may receive a corresponding RF output signal from a respective phase shifter/power divider circuit (not shown). Likewise, the second panel 102b includes a second array 120b of twenty-one radiating elements 110 arranged as a mirror image (about the longitudinal axis) of the first array 120a of radiating elements 110. The twenty-one radiating elements 110 in the second array 120b are also grouped into seven sub-arrays 130 of three radiating elements 110 per sub-array 130, which are mounted on corresponding triangular sub-array feed plates 132 (not shown) and receive corresponding RF signals from the corresponding triangular sub-array feed plates 132.

Referring now to fig. 1C, another conventional dual beam base station antenna 100' is illustrated as including a V-shaped reflector 102, and first 120a ' and second 120b ' arrays of radiating elements 110 thereon. However, unlike twenty-one radiating element 110 per

array

120a, 120b as shown by fig. 1A, each of the first and second arrays 120a ', 120b' of fig. 1C includes only twenty (20) radiating elements 110, which are grouped into: (i) three sub-arrays 130 of three radiating elements 110 that together span rows 1-6 (in each array 120a ', 120b '), (ii) three sub-arrays 130 of three radiating elements 110 that together span rows 8-13 (in each array 120a ', 120b '), and (iii) one sub-array 130' of two "horizontally aligned" radiating elements 110 that span row 7 (in each array 120a ', 120b '). These, as well as other aspects of the Base Station Antennas 100, 100' of fig. 1A-1C, are more fully disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent No.11,056,773, entitled "Twin-Beam Base Station Antennas with thin connected Arrays with Triangular Sub-Arrays," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

A dual-beam Base Station Antenna (BSA) according to an embodiment of the present invention utilizes an efficient layout of support sub-array feed plates and grouped radiating elements to support low cost applications with reduced weight while maintaining high performance RF characteristics (e.g., higher gain, lower side lobes, excellent beam-to-beam, in-band and cross-band isolation, and improved cross-polarization ratio (CPR)). In some of these embodiments, a dual beam BSA is provided that includes a multi-panel (e.g., v-shaped) reflector having first and second sub-array feed plates mounted to a forward-facing surface of a first panel thereof. A plurality of radiating elements is also provided, the radiating elements being arranged in at least three columns of radiating elements on the first panel. The plurality of radiating elements includes: (i) a first sub-array of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel, and attached at respective vertices of a triangle on the first sub-array feed plate when the first sub-array feed plate is viewed in plan, and (ii) a second sub-array of at least two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to the second sub-array feed plate. This second column of radiating elements is arranged between the first and third columns of radiating elements when the first panel is viewed in plan view.

According to a further embodiment of the utility model, the first sub-array feed plate may comprise 1 to 3 power dividers thereon, the 1 to 3 power dividers splitting the first sub-component of the first RF feed signal into three signals for a first sub-array of three radiating elements. Further, the second sub-array feed plate may include 1 pair of N power dividers thereon, the 1 pair of N power dividers splitting the second sub-component of the first RF feed signal into N signals for a second sub-array of two radiating elements, where N is 2 or 3. The first panel may further include a third subarray feed plate mounted thereto, and the plurality of radiating elements may include a third subarray of two radiating elements aligned with and attached to the third subarray feed plate, respectively, the first and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel. The third sub-array feed plate may further include a 1-to-2 power splitter thereon, the 1-to-2 power splitter splitting the third sub-component of the first RF feed signal into two signals for a third sub-array of two radiating elements.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the second subarray of at least two radiating elements spans rows two and three of the plurality of radiating elements, and the first subarray of three radiating elements spans rows four and five of the plurality of radiating elements. In other embodiments of the present invention, the second subarray of two radiating elements spans rows one and two of the plurality of radiating elements, and the first subarray of three radiating elements spans rows four and five of the plurality of radiating elements. In additional embodiments of the present invention, the second subarray of at least two radiating elements spans rows one and two of the plurality of radiating elements, the third subarray of two radiating elements extends in row three of the plurality of radiating elements, and the first subarray of three radiating elements spans rows four and five of the plurality of radiating elements. In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the second sub-array of at least two radiating elements spans rows one and two of the plurality of radiating elements, and the first sub-array of three radiating elements spans rows three and four of the plurality of radiating elements.

A dual beam base station antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a multi-panel reflector having first and second sub-array feed plates mounted to a first panel thereof, and a plurality of radiating elements arranged in at least three columns of radiating elements on the first panel. The plurality of radiating elements includes: (i) a first sub-array of three radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to the first sub-array feed plate, and (ii) a second sub-array of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel, respectively, and attached to the second sub-array feed plate. In some of these embodiments of the present invention, the first subarray of three radiating elements spans rows one, two and three of the plurality of radiating elements, and the second subarray of two radiating elements spans row six of the plurality of radiating elements.

A dual beam base station antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a multi-panel reflector having a first sub-array feed plate, a second sub-array feed plate, and a third sub-array feed plate mounted to a first panel thereof, and a plurality of radiating elements arranged in at least three columns of radiating elements on the first panel. The plurality of radiating elements includes: (i) a first sub-array of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel, and when the first sub-array feed plate is viewed in plan view, the three radiating elements are attached at respective vertices of a triangle on the first sub-array feed plate, (ii) a second sub-array of at least two radiating elements, each aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to the second sub-array feed plate, and (iii) a third sub-array of two radiating elements, each aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to the third sub-array feed plate.

A dual beam base station antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a multi-panel reflector having first through seventh sub-array feed plates mounted to a first panel thereof, and a plurality of radiating elements arranged in first, second, and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel. The plurality of radiating elements includes: (i) a first subarray of single radiating elements aligned with a second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a first subarray feed plate, the first subarray spanning a first row of the plurality of radiating elements, (ii) a second subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a second subarray feed plate, the second subarray spanning a second row and a third row of the plurality of radiating elements, (iii) a third subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second, and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel, respectively, and attached to a third subarray feed plate, the third subarray spanning a fourth row and a fifth row of the plurality of radiating elements, (iv) a fourth subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the first column of radiating elements on the first panel, respectively, (iv) a fourth subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second, and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel, respectively, and attached to the fifth subarray feed plate, the fifth subarray spanning eighth and ninth rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (vi) a sixth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel, and attached to the sixth feed plate, the sixth subarray spanning tenth and tenth rows of the plurality of radiating elements, and (vii) a seventh subarray of single radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel, and attached to the seventh subarray feed plate, the seventh sub-array spans a twelfth row of the plurality of radiating elements.

A dual beam base station antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a multi-panel reflector having first through seventh sub-array feed plates mounted to a first panel thereof, and a plurality of radiating elements arranged in first, second, and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel. The plurality of radiating elements includes: (i) a first subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a first subarray feed plate, the first subarray spanning first and second rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (ii) a second subarray of two radiating elements aligned with first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a second subarray feed plate, the second subarray spanning third rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (iii) a third subarray of three radiating elements aligned with first, second, and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a third feed plate, the third subarray spanning fourth and fifth rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (iv) a fourth subarray of three radiating elements aligned with first, second, and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel, (vi) a sixth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a sixth subarray feed plate spanning a tenth row of a plurality of radiating elements, and (vii) a seventh subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a seventh subarray feed plate, the seventh sub-array spans an eleventh row and a twelfth row of the plurality of radiating elements.

A dual beam base station antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a multi-panel reflector having first through seventh sub-array feed plates mounted to a first panel thereof, and a plurality of radiating elements arranged in first, second, and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel. The plurality of radiating elements includes: (i) a first subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a first subarray feed plate, the first subarray spanning first and second rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (ii) a second subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second, and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a second subarray feed plate, the second subarray spanning third and fourth rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (iii) a third subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a third subarray feed plate, the third subarray spanning fifth row of the plurality of radiating elements; (iv) a fourth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a fourth subarray feed plate, the fourth subarray spanning a sixth row of the plurality of radiating elements, (v) a fifth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a fifth subarray feed plate, the fifth subarray spanning a seventh row of the plurality of radiating elements, (vi) a sixth subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second, and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a sixth feed plate, the sixth subarray spanning an eighth and ninth row of the plurality of radiating elements, and (vii) a seventh subarray of two radiating elements, two radiating elements are aligned with a second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a seventh subarray feed plate that spans a tenth row and a tenth row of the plurality of radiating elements.

A dual beam base station antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a multi-panel reflector having first through fifth sub-array feed plates mounted to a first panel thereof, and a plurality of radiating elements arranged in first, second, and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel. The plurality of radiating elements includes: (i) a first subarray of three radiating elements aligned with a second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a first subarray feed plate, the first subarray spanning first, second, and third rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (ii) a second subarray of three radiating elements aligned with first, second, and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a second subarray feed plate, the second subarray spanning fourth and fifth rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (iii) a third subarray of two radiating elements aligned with first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a third subarray feed plate, the third subarray spanning sixth row of the plurality of radiating elements, (iv) a fourth subarray of three radiating elements, (iv) three radiating elements aligned with the first, second, and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a fourth subarray feed plate spanning seventh and eighth rows of the plurality of radiating elements, and (v) a fifth subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a fifth subarray feed plate spanning ninth, tenth, and eleventh rows of the plurality of radiating elements.

A dual beam base station antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a multi-panel reflector having first through seventh sub-array feed plates mounted to a first panel thereof, and a plurality of radiating elements arranged in first, second, and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel. The plurality of radiating elements includes: (i) a first subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a first subarray feed plate, the first subarray spanning first, second, and third rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (ii) a second subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a second subarray feed plate, the second subarray spanning fourth rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (iii) a third subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a third subarray feed plate, the third subarray spanning fifth rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (iv) a fourth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel, and attached to a fourth subarray feed plate spanning a sixth row of the plurality of radiating elements, (v) a fifth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to the fifth subarray feed plate, the fifth subarray spanning a seventh row of the plurality of radiating elements, (vi) a sixth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to the sixth subarray feed plate, the sixth subarray spanning an eighth row of the plurality of radiating elements, and (vii) a seventh subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to the seventh subarray feed plate, the seventh subarray spanning a ninth row of the plurality of radiating elements, Tenth and eleventh rows.

A dual beam base station antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a multi-panel reflector having first through seventh sub-array feed plates mounted to a first panel thereof, and a plurality of radiating elements arranged in first, second, and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel. The plurality of radiating elements includes: (i) a first subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a first subarray feed plate, the first subarray spanning first and second rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (ii) a second subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a second subarray feed plate, the second subarray spanning third and fourth rows of the plurality of radiating elements, (iii) a third subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a third subarray feed plate, the third subarray spanning fifth row of the plurality of radiating elements, (iv) a fourth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel, and attached to a fourth subarray feed plate spanning a sixth row of the plurality of radiating elements, (v) a fifth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel, respectively, and attached to the fifth subarray feed plate, the fifth subarray spanning a seventh row of the plurality of radiating elements, (vi) a sixth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a sixth subarray feed plate, (vii) a sixth subarray spanning an eighth row and a ninth row of a plurality of radiating elements, and (vii) a seventh subarray of two radiating elements, the two radiating elements aligned with a second column of radiating elements on the first panel, and attached to a seventh sub-array feed plate spanning the tenth and eleventh rows of the plurality of radiating elements. According to a further aspect of this embodiment of the utility model, the multi-panel reflector may include a second panel extending adjacent to the first panel, and the first and second sub-array feed plates may be asymmetrically arranged within a second "non-linear" column such that the first sub-array feed plate is arranged slightly closer to the second panel relative to the second sub-array feed plate.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a plan view of a conventional dual-beam Base Station Antenna (BSA) that includes six columns of radiating elements mounted on an underlying V-shaped reflector.

Fig. 1B is an end perspective view of the dual beam BSA of fig. 1A.

Figure 1C is a plan view of a conventional BSA including six columns of radiating elements mounted on an underlying V-shaped reflector.

Fig. 2A-3B are plan views of a dual-beam BSA including six columns of radiating elements mounted on an underlying V-shaped reflector, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4A is a plan view of the forward facing surface of a subarray feed plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4B is a plan view of the sub-array feed plate of fig. 4A having three (3) cross-polarized dipole radiating elements mounted thereon, the three (3) cross-polarized dipole radiating elements being at the vertices of a triangle when viewed from a planar perspective.

Fig. 4C is a schematic diagram of three (3) cross-polarized dipole radiating elements fed by RF signals produced at respective outputs of a pair of 1-to-3 power splitters that may be provided on a rear-facing surface (e.g., a metal trace surface) of the sub-array feed plate of fig. 4A-4B.

Fig. 5A is a plan view of a forward facing surface of a sub-array feed plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5B is a plan view of the subarray feed plate of fig. 5A having a pair of cross-polarized dipole radiating elements mounted adjacent opposite ends thereof.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a feed network 600 that may be used within the dual-beam BSA of fig. 2C, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the utility model are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the utility model to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the utility model. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "has," "having," and variations thereof, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. In contrast, when the term "consisting of … …" is used in this specification, it indicates that the feature, step, operation, element and/or component is described, and excludes additional features, steps, operations, elements and/or components.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Referring now to fig. 2A, a dual-beam Base Station Antenna (BSA)200a according to an embodiment of the present invention utilizes an efficient layout of grouped radiating elements 210, which may be configured as cross-polarized dipole radiating elements, and supports

sub-array feed plates

232A, 232b, and 232c to support low cost applications while maintaining high performance RF characteristics, such as higher gain with lower sidelobes. As shown, the antenna 200a includes: (i) a reflector 202 defined by a first panel 202a and a second panel 202B, the first panel 202a and the second panel 202B connected along a longitudinal axis (and a vertex V) such that the reflector 202 has an inverted V-shape when viewed from an end perspective (see, e.g., fig. 1B), and (ii) first and second arrays 220a and 220B of radiating elements 210 mounted on forward facing surfaces of the first and second panels 202a and 202B.

In particular, the first array 220a is illustrated as including fifteen (15) radiating elements 210 arranged in an array spanning three columns C1 (inner), C2 (middle), and C3 (outer), and twelve (12) rows R1-R12, as shown. The fifteen radiating elements 210 are also arranged into seven sub-arrays (230a (3x), 230b (2x), 230c (2x)) within the first array 220a, with each sub-array being supported by a corresponding

sub-array feed plate

232a, 232b, 232 c. Similarly, the second array 220b is illustrated as including fifteen (15) radiating elements 210 arranged in seven sub-arrays supported by corresponding sub-array feed plates (not shown) on the second panel 202b as mirror images (about the longitudinal axis) of the sub-arrays and sub-array feed plates on the first panel 202 a.

As shown on the right side of fig. 2A, sub-array feed plates 232A-232c are arranged on first panel 202A such that: (i) the first replica (copy) of the third subarray feed plate 232C includes a single radiating element 210 thereon that is located on row R1 and column C2 of the first array 220a, (ii) the first replica of the second subarray feed plate 232b includes a pair of radiating elements 210 thereon that span row R2-R3 within column C2 of the first array 220a, (iii) the first replica 232a of the first subarray feed plate includes three radiating elements 210 thereon (e.g., at the vertices of a triangle) that span row R4-R5 and column C1-C3 within the first array 220a, (iv) the second replica of the first subarray feed plate 232a includes three radiating elements 210 thereon that span row R6-R7 and column C1-C3 within the first array 220a, (v) the third replica of the first subarray feed plate 232a includes three radiating elements 210 thereon, these radiating elements span rows R8-R9 and columns C1-C3 within the first array 220a, (vi) the second copy of the second sub-array feed plate 232b includes a pair of radiating elements 210 thereon that span rows R10-R11 within columns C2 of the first array 220a, and (vii) the second copy of the third sub-array feed plate 232C includes a single radiating element 210 thereon that is located in rows R12 and columns C2 of the first array 220 a. Although not wishing to be bound by a particular configuration, in some embodiments of the utility model, the first and second subarrays 230a and 230B of radiating elements and the corresponding first and second subarray feed plates 232a and 232B may be configured as described and illustrated below with respect to fig. 4A-4C and 5A-5B.

Referring now to fig. 2B, a dual beam Base Station Antenna (BSA)200B according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a reflector 202 and first and second arrays 220a 'and 220B' of radiating elements 210, the first and second arrays 220a 'and 220B' of radiating elements 210 being mounted on the forward facing surfaces of the first and second panels 202a and 202B. The first array 220a' is illustrated as including seventeen (17) radiating elements 210 arranged in an array spanning three columns C1 (inner), C2 (middle), and C3 (outer), and twelve (12) rows R1-R12, as shown. The seventeen radiating elements 210 are also arranged into seven sub-arrays (230a (3x), 230b (4x)) within the first array 220a', where each sub-array is supported by a corresponding

sub-array feed plate

232a, 232 b. Similarly, the second array 220b' is illustrated as including seventeen (17) radiating elements 210 arranged in seven sub-arrays supported by corresponding sub-array feed plates (not shown) on the second panel 202b as mirror images (about the longitudinal axis) of the sub-arrays and sub-array feed plates on the first panel 202 a.

As shown on the right side of fig. 2B, sub-array feed plates 232a-232B are arranged on first panel 202a such that: (i) the first replica of the second sub-array feed plate 232b includes a pair of radiating elements 210 thereon spanning rows R1-R2 within column C2, (ii) the second replica of the second sub-array feed plate 232b includes a pair of radiating elements 210 thereon located in columns C1 and C3 of row R3, (iii) the first replica of the first sub-array feed plate 232a includes three radiating elements 210 thereon spanning rows R4-R5 and columns C1-C3, (iv) the second replica of the first sub-array feed plate 232a includes three radiating elements 210 thereon spanning rows R6-R7 and columns C1-C3, (v) the third replica of the first sub-array feed plate 232a includes three radiating elements 210 thereon spanning rows R8-R9 and columns C1-C3, (vi) (vii) the third copy of second sub-array feed plate 232b includes a pair of radiating elements 210 thereon, which are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R10, and (vii) the fourth copy of second sub-array feed plate 232b includes a pair of radiating elements 210 thereon, which span rows R11-R12 within column C2. The left side of fig. 2B is similarly configured based on a mirror image layout of sub-array feed plates 232a, 232B and radiating elements 210 thereon.

Referring now to fig. 2C, a dual beam Base Station Antenna (BSA)200C according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a first array 220a "and a second array 220b" of reflectors 202 and radiating elements 210, the first array 220a "and the second array 220b" of radiating elements 210 being mounted on the forward facing surfaces of the first panel 202a and the second panel 202 b. The first array 220a "is illustrated as including sixteen (16) radiating elements 210 arranged in an array spanning three columns C1 (inner), C2 (middle), and C3 (outer), and eleven (11) rows R1-R11, as shown. The sixteen radiating elements 210 are also arranged into seven sub-arrays (230a (2x), 230b (5x)) within the first array 220a ", with each sub-array supported by a corresponding

sub-array feed plate

232a, 232 b. Similarly, the second array 220b "is illustrated as including sixteen (16) radiating elements 210 arranged in seven sub-arrays supported by corresponding sub-array feed plates (not shown) on the second panel 202b as mirror images (about the longitudinal axis) of the sub-arrays and sub-array feed plates on the first panel 202 a.

As shown on the right side of fig. 2C, sub-array feed plates 232a-232b are arranged on first panel 202a such that: (i) the first replica of the second subarray feed plate 232b includes a pair of radiating elements 210 thereon which span rows R1-R2 within column C2, (ii) the first replica of the first subarray feed plate 232a includes three radiating elements 210 thereon which span rows R3-R4 and columns C1-C3, (iii) the second replica of the second subarray feed plate 232b includes a pair of radiating elements 210 thereon which are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R5, (iv) the third replica of the second subarray feed plate 232b includes a pair of radiating elements 210 thereon which are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R6, (v) the fourth replica of the second subarray feed plate 232b includes a pair of radiating elements 210 thereon which are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R7, (vi) the second replica of the first subarray feed plate 232a includes three radiating elements 210 thereon, these radiating elements span rows R8-R9 and columns C1-C3, and (vii) the fifth copy of the second sub-array feed plate 232b includes a pair of radiating elements 210 thereon that span rows R10-R11 within column C2. The left side of fig. 2C is similarly configured based on the mirror image layout of

sub-array feed plates

232a, 232b and the radiating elements 210 thereon.

Referring now to fig. 2D, a dual beam Base Station Antenna (BSA)200D according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a first array 220a '″ and a second array 220b' ″ of radiating elements 210, the first array 220a '″ and the second array 220b' ″ of radiating elements 210 being mounted on the forward facing surfaces of the first panel 202a and the second panel 202 b. The first array 220a' "is illustrated as including fourteen (14) radiating elements 210 arranged in an array spanning three columns C1 (inner), C2 (middle), and C3 (outer), and eleven (11) rows R1-R11, as shown. The fourteen radiating elements 210 are also arranged into five sub-arrays (230a (2x), 230b (1x), 230d (2x)) within the first array 220a' ", with each sub-array supported by a corresponding

sub-array feed plate

232a, 232b, 232 d. Similarly, the second array 220b' "is illustrated as including fourteen (14) radiating elements arranged in five sub-arrays supported by corresponding sub-array feed plates (not shown) on the second panel 202b as mirror images (about the longitudinal axis) of the sub-arrays and sub-array feed plates on the first panel 202 a. Advantageously, by utilizing only fourteen radiating elements 210 and five sub-array feed plates, the embodiment of fig. 2D can potentially provide significant cost savings over one or more of the embodiments of fig. 2A-2C, while maintaining comparatively excellent RF operating characteristics.

As shown on the right side of fig. 2D,

sub-array feed plates

232a, 232b, 232D are arranged on the first panel 202a such that: (i) a first replica of fourth sub-array feed plate 232d includes three radiating elements 210 thereon, these radiating elements span rows R1-R3 within column C2, (ii) the first replica of the first sub-array feed plate 232a includes three radiating elements 210 thereon, these radiating elements span rows R4-R5 and columns C1-C3, (iii) the first replica of the second sub-array feed plate 232b includes a pair of radiating elements 210 thereon, the pair of radiating elements are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R6, (iv) the second copy of the first sub-array feed plate 232a includes three radiating elements 210 thereon, these radiating elements span rows R7-R8 and columns C1-C3, and (v) the second copy of the fourth sub-array feed plate 232d includes three radiating elements 210 thereon, which span rows R9-R11 within column C2.

Referring now to fig. 3A, a dual beam Base Station Antenna (BSA)300a according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a reflector 202 and first and

second arrays

320a and 320b of radiating elements 210, the first and

second arrays

320a and 320b of radiating elements 210 being mounted on the forward facing surfaces of the first and

second panels

202a and 202 b. The first array 320a is illustrated as including fourteen (14) radiating elements 210 arranged in an array spanning three columns C1 (inner), C2 (middle (non-linear)), and C3 (outer), and eleven (11) rows R1-R11, as shown. The fourteen radiating elements 210 are also arranged into seven sub-arrays (230b (7x)) within the first array 320a, with each sub-array being supported by a corresponding sub-array feed plate 232 b. Similarly, the second array 320b is illustrated as including fourteen (14) radiating elements 210 arranged in seven sub-arrays supported by corresponding sub-array feed plates (not shown) on the second panel 202b as mirror images (about the longitudinal axis) of the sub-arrays and sub-array feed plates on the first panel 202 a.

As shown on the right side of fig. 3A, the second sub-array feed plate 232b is arranged on the first panel 202a such that: (i) the first replica of the second subarray feed plate 232b includes two radiating elements 210 thereon that span rows R1-R2 in the "inner" of column C2 (for better azimuth performance), (ii) the second replica of the second subarray feed plate 232b includes two radiating elements 210 thereon that span rows R3-R4 in the "outer" of column C2 (for better azimuth performance), (iii) the third replica of the second subarray feed plate 232b includes two radiating elements 210 thereon that are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R5, (iv) the fourth replica of the second subarray feed plate 232b includes two radiating elements 210 thereon that are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R6, (v) the fifth replica of the second feed plate 232b includes two radiating elements 210 thereon, these radiating elements are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R7, (vi) the sixth copy of second subarray feed plate 232b includes two radiating elements 210 thereon that span rows R8-R9 in the "inner" of column C2 (for better azimuth performance), (vii) the seventh copy of second subarray feed plate 232b includes two radiating elements 210 thereon that span rows R10-R11 in the "outer" of column C2 (for better azimuth performance).

Referring now to fig. 3B, a dual beam Base Station Antenna (BSA)300B according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a reflector 202 and first and second arrays 320a 'and 320B' of radiating elements 210, the first and second arrays 320a 'and 320B' of radiating elements 210 being mounted on the forward facing surfaces of the first and second panels 202a and 202B. The first array 320a' is illustrated as including sixteen (16) radiating elements 210 arranged in an array spanning three columns C1 (inner), C2 (middle (non-linear)), and C3 (outer), and eleven (11) rows R1-R11, as shown. The sixteen radiating elements 210 are also arranged into seven sub-arrays (230b (5x), 230d (2x)) within the first array 320a', with each sub-array supported by a corresponding

sub-array feed plate

232b, 232 d. Similarly, the second array 320b' is illustrated as including sixteen (16) radiating elements 210 arranged in seven sub-arrays supported by corresponding sub-array feed plates (not shown) on the second panel 202b as mirror images (about the longitudinal axis) of the sub-arrays and sub-array feed plates on the first panel 202 a.

As shown on the right side of fig. 3B, the sub-array feed plate 232B 232d is arranged on the first panel 202a such that: (i) the first replica of the fourth subarray feed plate 232d includes three radiating elements 210 thereon which span rows R1-R3 within column C2, (ii) the first replica of the second subarray feed plate 232b includes two radiating elements 210 thereon which are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R4, (iii) the second replica of the second subarray feed plate 232b includes two radiating elements 210 thereon which are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R5, (iv) the third replica of the second feed plate 232b includes two radiating elements 210 thereon which are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R6, (v) the fourth replica of the second subarray feed plate 232b includes two radiating elements 210 thereon which are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R7, (vi) the fifth replica of the second feed plate 232b includes two radiating elements 210 thereon, these radiating elements are located in columns C1 and C3 of row R8, and (vii) the second copy of fourth sub-array feed plate 232d includes three radiating elements 210 thereon, which span rows R9-R11 within column C2.

Referring now to fig. 4A-4C, an embodiment of the three-element sub-array 230a described above with respect to fig. 2A-2D is illustrated as including a first sub-array feed plate 232A (e.g., a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)) configured to support mounting of three radiating elements 210 to a forward-facing surface thereof. As shown, the three radiating elements 210 may be mounted such that the central vertical axis (not shown) of each of their feed rods is aligned with the respective vertices V1, V2, V3 of the triangle on the forward facing surface. Thus, as shown by fig. 4A, three cross-shaped cutouts 402 may be provided that extend through the first sub-array feed plate 232a and facilitate mounting of the three radiating elements 210, including their cross-shaped feed rods (not shown), to as shown by fig. 4B. Further, to reduce the assembly weight of the BSA, the first sub-array feed plate 232a may have a modified triangular shape with relatively large polygonal (e.g., 3-sided)

cutouts

404a, 404b on each of the three longest sides of the plate 232 a.

Furthermore, as shown by fig. 4C, the first sub-array feed plate 232a may also include patterned metal traces (for signal distribution) on its rear-facing surface and a pair of 1-to-3 power dividers 410, which when assembled face the corresponding

panels

202a, 202b of the V-shaped reflector 202. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, each 1-to-3 power splitter 410 (for respective +45 °, -45 ° polarizations) may be configured to split a sub-component of a provided RF feed signal (e.g., RF1, RF2) into three signals (S1n, S2n, S3n, where n is 1 or 2) that are provided to corresponding ones of the three radiating elements 210 within the sub-array 230 a.

Referring now to fig. 5A-5B, an embodiment of the two-element subarray 230B described above with respect to fig. 2A-2D and 3A-3B is illustrated as including a rectangular-shaped subarray feed plate 232B having a forward facing surface thereon and a rearward facing surface thereon containing metal traces for signal distribution and a pair of 1-to-2 power dividers (not shown). Specifically, as shown by fig. 5A, a pair of cross-shaped cutouts 502 are provided adjacent to opposite ends of sub-array feed plate 232 b. These cross-shaped cutouts 502 extend through sub-array feed plate 232B and facilitate the mounting of two radiating elements 210, including cross-shaped feed rods (not shown), to as shown by fig. 5B. Furthermore, in further embodiments of the present invention, the lateral spacing between cross-shaped cutouts 502 and the length-by-width (LxW) dimensions of sub-array feed plates 232B may vary depending on whether their corresponding radiating elements 210 are aligned with the same column or row within BSA, as shown in fig. 2A-2D and 3A-3B. Thus, not all of the sub-array feed plates 232b described herein need to have the same length times width dimensions and the same spacing between their pairs of radiating elements 210.

Referring now to fig. 6, an exemplary feed network 600 is illustrated, the feed network 600 being configured to support the first array 220a "within BSA 200C of fig. 2C. As shown, the feed signal network 600 includes a pair of

RF ports

602a, 602b that can be connected to respective ports on a remote radio head (not shown); the first RF port 602a may be used for a-45 ° polarized RF feed signal and the second RF port 602b may be used for a +45 ° polarized RF feed signal. These

RF ports

602a, 602b are electrically coupled to respective phase shifter/

power divider circuits

604a, 604 b. In the depicted embodiment, each phase shifter/

power divider circuit

604a, 604b is configured to split the corresponding RF feed signal received at the

RF port

602a, 602b into seven (7) sub-components, and then apply an adjustable amount of phase taper across the seven sub-components SCa1-SCa7, SCb1-SCb7, in order to electronically tilt the resulting antenna beam produced by the first array 220a "by a desired amount. As described above with respect to fig. 4C, each of the sub-components may be provided to a

corresponding feed plate

232a, 232b (and a 1-to-2 or 1-to-3 power splitter (not shown) thereon) in order to generate a corresponding RF signal that is provided to the radiating element 210.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the utility model and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the utility model being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A dual-beam base station antenna, comprising:

a multi-panel reflector having first and second sub-array feed plates mounted on a first panel thereof; and

a plurality of radiating elements arranged in at least three columns of radiating elements on the first panel, the plurality of radiating elements comprising:

a first subarray of three radiating elements aligned with a first, second and third column of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel, and the three radiating elements are attached at respective vertices of a triangle on the first subarray feed plate when the first subarray feed plate is viewed from a planar perspective; and

a second subarray of at least two radiating elements aligned with a second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to the second subarray feed plate.

2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the first sub-array feed plate includes 1-to-3 power dividers thereon, the 1-to-3 power dividers splitting a first sub-component of a first RF feed signal into three signals for a first sub-array of three radiating elements; and wherein the second sub-array feed plate comprises 1 pair of N power dividers thereon, the 1 pair of N power dividers splitting the second sub-component of the first RF feed signal into N signals for a second sub-array of two radiating elements, where N is 2 or 3.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the second column of radiating elements is arranged between the first column and the third column of radiating elements when the first panel is viewed in plan view.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first and second subarray feed plates are mounted on a forward facing surface of the first panel.

5. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising a third sub-array feed plate mounted to the first panel; and wherein the plurality of radiating elements further comprises a third sub-array of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel, respectively, and attached to the third sub-array feed plate.

6. The antenna of claim 2, further comprising a third sub-array feed plate mounted to the first panel; and wherein the plurality of radiating elements further comprises a third sub-array of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel, respectively, and attached to the third sub-array feed plate.

7. The antenna of claim 6 wherein the third sub-array feed plate includes a 1-to-2 power splitter thereon, the 1-to-2 power splitter splitting a third sub-component of the first RF feed signal into two signals for a third sub-array of two radiating elements.

8. The antenna of claim 1, wherein a second subarray of at least two radiating elements spans a second row and a third row of the plurality of radiating elements; and wherein the first sub-array of three radiating elements spans the fourth and fifth rows of the plurality of radiating elements.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein a second subarray of two radiating elements spans a first row and a second row of the plurality of radiating elements; and wherein the first sub-array of three radiating elements spans the fourth and fifth rows of the plurality of radiating elements.

10. The antenna of claim 6, wherein a second subarray of at least two radiating elements spans a first row and a second row of the plurality of radiating elements; wherein a third sub-array of two radiating elements extends in a third row of the plurality of radiating elements; and wherein the first sub-array of three radiating elements spans the fourth and fifth rows of the plurality of radiating elements.

11. The antenna of claim 1, wherein a second subarray of at least two radiating elements spans a first row and a second row of the plurality of radiating elements; and wherein the first sub-array of three radiating elements spans the third and fourth rows of the plurality of radiating elements.

12. A dual beam base station antenna, comprising:

a multi-panel reflector having first and second sub-array feed plates mounted to a first panel thereof; and

a first subarray of three radiating elements aligned with a second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to the first subarray feed plate; and

a second subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to the second subarray feed plate.

13. The antenna of claim 12, wherein a first subarray of three radiating elements spans a first row, a second row, and a third row of the plurality of radiating elements; and wherein the second subarray of two radiating elements spans a sixth row of the plurality of radiating elements.

14. A dual-beam base station antenna, comprising:

a multi-panel reflector having a first, second, and third sub-array feed plates mounted to a first panel thereof; and

a first sub-array of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached at respective vertices of a triangle on the first sub-array feed plate when the first sub-array feed plate is viewed from a planar perspective;

a second subarray of at least two radiating elements, each aligned with a second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to the second subarray feed plate; and

a third subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to the third subarray feed plate.

15. A dual-beam base station antenna, comprising:

a multi-panel reflector having first to seventh sub-array feed plates mounted to a first panel thereof; and

a plurality of radiating elements arranged in a first column, a second column, and a third column of radiating elements on the first panel, the plurality of radiating elements comprising:

a first subarray of individual radiating elements aligned with a second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to the first subarray feed plate, the first subarray spanning a first row of the plurality of radiating elements;

a second subarray of two radiating elements aligned with a second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a second subarray feed plate, the second subarray spanning a second row and a third row of the plurality of radiating elements;

a third subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second, and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a third subarray feed plate, the third subarray spanning fourth and fifth rows of the plurality of radiating elements;

a fourth subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second, and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a fourth subarray feed plate, the fourth subarray spanning sixth and seventh rows of the plurality of radiating elements;

a fifth subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second, and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a fifth subarray feed plate, the fifth subarray spanning eighth and ninth rows of the plurality of radiating elements;

a sixth sub-array of two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a sixth sub-array feed plate, the sixth sub-array spanning a tenth row and a tenth row of the plurality of radiating elements; and

a seventh sub-array of single radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a seventh sub-array feed plate, the seventh sub-array spanning a twelfth row of the plurality of radiating elements.

16. A dual-beam base station antenna, comprising:

a first subarray of two radiating elements aligned with a second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a first subarray feed plate, the first subarray spanning a first row and a second row of the plurality of radiating elements;

a second subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a second subarray feed plate, the second subarray spanning a third row of the plurality of radiating elements;

a sixth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a sixth subarray feed plate, the sixth subarray spanning a tenth row of the plurality of radiating elements; and

a seventh sub-array of two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a seventh sub-array feed plate, the seventh sub-array spanning the eleventh and twelfth rows of the plurality of radiating elements.

17. A dual-beam base station antenna, comprising:

a second subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second, and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a second subarray feed plate, the second subarray spanning third and fourth rows of the plurality of radiating elements;

a third subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a third subarray feed plate, the third subarray spanning a fifth row of the plurality of radiating elements;

a fourth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a fourth subarray feed plate, the fourth subarray spanning a sixth row of the plurality of radiating elements;

a fifth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a fifth subarray feed plate, the fifth subarray spanning a seventh row of the plurality of radiating elements;

a sixth subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second, and third columns of radiating elements on the first panel, respectively, and attached to a sixth subarray feed plate, the sixth subarray spanning eighth and ninth rows of the plurality of radiating elements; and

a seventh sub-array of two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a seventh sub-array feed plate, the seventh sub-array spanning a tenth row and a tenth row of the plurality of radiating elements.

18. A dual-beam base station antenna, comprising:

a multi-panel reflector having first to fifth sub-array feed plates mounted to a first panel thereof; and

a first subarray of three radiating elements aligned with a second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a first subarray feed plate, the first subarray spanning a first row, a second row, and a third row of the plurality of radiating elements;

a second subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second, and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a second subarray feed plate, the second subarray spanning fourth and fifth rows of the plurality of radiating elements;

a third subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a third subarray feed plate, the third subarray spanning a sixth row of the plurality of radiating elements;

a fourth subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the first, second, and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a fourth subarray feed plate, the fourth subarray spanning seventh and eighth rows of the plurality of radiating elements; and

a fifth subarray of three radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a fifth subarray feed plate, the fifth subarray spanning across a ninth row, a tenth row, and an eleventh row of the plurality of radiating elements.

19. A dual-beam base station antenna, comprising:

a second subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a second subarray feed plate, the second subarray spanning a fourth row of the plurality of radiating elements;

a sixth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the first and third columns of radiating elements, respectively, on the first panel and attached to a sixth subarray feed plate, the sixth subarray spanning an eighth row of the plurality of radiating elements; and

a seventh sub-array of three radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a seventh sub-array feed plate, the seventh sub-array spanning a ninth row, a tenth row, and a tenth row of the plurality of radiating elements.

20. A dual-beam base station antenna, comprising:

a second subarray of two radiating elements aligned with a second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a second subarray feed plate, the second subarray spanning a third row and a fourth row of the plurality of radiating elements;

a sixth subarray of two radiating elements aligned with the second column of radiating elements on the first panel and attached to a sixth subarray feed plate, the sixth subarray spanning an eighth row and a ninth row of the plurality of radiating elements; and

21. The antenna of claim 20, wherein the multi-panel reflector includes a second panel extending adjacent to the first panel; and wherein the first and second sub-array feed plates are asymmetrically arranged within a second column such that the first sub-array feed plates are arranged closer to the second panel than the second sub-array feed plates.