Ems Technologies, Inc.

James Crawford Carson

Sara Phillips

Donald Lawson Runyon

James K Tillery

Darin Janoschka

James Ernest Thompson, Jr

A class of modular, double-sided, edge-mounted printed circuit (PC) board modules and an associated modular network architecture for constructing stripline signal processing networks including high-power analog amplifiers and beam forming networks for driving multi-beam antenna systems. The stripline signal processing networks are characterized by network elements constructed from defined-length segments of transmission media configured to exhibit precisely determined phase and impedance characteristics. These circuits may also include conventional passive 'lumped' electrical elements, such as resistors, capacitors and inductors; non-linear circuit elements such as diodes; and active electrical elements, such as amplifiers and transistors.

Double-sided, edge-mounted stripline signal processing modules and modular network

An antenna system can generate RF radiation fields having dual simultaneous polarization states and having substantially rotationally symmetric radiation patterns. The antenna system generates RF radiation patterns where the beamwidths of respective RF fields for respective radiating elements are substantially equal and are relatively large despite the compact, physical size of the antenna system. The antenna system can include one or more patch radiators and a non-resonant patch separated from each other by an air dielectric and by relatively small spacer elements. The patch radiators and non-resonant patch can have predefined shapes for increasing polarization discrimination. The lower patch radiators can be mounted to a printed circuit board that can include an RF feed network and a ground plane which defines a plurality of symmetrically, shaped slots. The slots within the ground plane of the printed circuit board can be excited by stubs that are part of the feed network of the printed circuit board. The slots, in turn, can establish a transverse magnetic mode of RF radiation in a cavity which is disposed adjacent to the ground plane of the printed circuit board and a ground plane of the antenna system. The feed network of the printed circuit board can be aligned with portions of the cavity such that the portions of the cavity function as a heat sink for absorbing or receiving thermal energy produced by the feed network.

Patch and cavity for producing dual polarization states with controlled RF beamwidths

A compact antenna system can generate RF radiation fields having increased beamwidths and bandwidths. The antenna system can include one or more patch radiators. The lower patch radiators can be mounted to a printed circuit board that can include a ground plane which defines a plurality of slots. The slots within the ground plane of the printed circuit board can be excited by stubs that are part of the feed network of the printed circuit board. The slots, in turn, can establish RF radiation in a cavity which is disposed adjacent to the ground plane of the printed circuit board and a ground plane of the antenna system.

Aperture Coupled Cavity Backed Patch Antenna

A dual-polarization wireless base station antenna that implements vertical electrical downtilt and sidelobe reduction using beam steering circuit that includes a variable power divider and a multi-beam beam forming network. The variable power divider includes a single adjustable control element to divide an input voltage signal into a pair of complimentary amplitude voltage drive signals that exhibit matched phase and constant phase delay through the variable power divider. The beam forming network is configured as a double-sided, edge-connected microstrip module mounted to a main panel, which support the antenna elements in a vertical column organized into sub-arrays in a manner that implements sidelobe reduction. The power distribution network connecting the beam steering network to the antenna elements implements beam tilt bias and sidelobe reduction through coordinated phase shifting implemented through transmission media trace length adjustment.

Vertical electrical downtilt antenna

Using a method and apparatus for connecting an electrical cable to a circuit board. The connector is largely semi-circular in shape and generally comprises four prongs for attaching the connector to the edge of a circuit board. The connector is particularly useful for attaching a coaxial cable to a circuit board where the coaxial cable is not very flexible. The coaxial cable can be easily placed onto the connector. Once the coaxial cable is placed on the connector, the outer conductor can be attached to the connector and the inner conductor can be attached to the circuit board.

Board edge launch connector

Method and system for producing dual polarization states with controlled RF beamwidths

A compact antenna system can generate RF radiation fields having increased beamwidths and bandwidths. The antenna system can include one or more patch radiators separated from each other by an air dielectric and by relatively small spacer elements. The lower patch radiators can be mounted to a printed circuit board that can include an RF feed network and a ground plane which defines a plurality of symmetrically, shaped slots. The slots within the ground plane of the printed circuit board can be excited by stubs that are part of the feed network of the printed circuit board. The slots, in turn, can establish a transverse magnetic mode of RF radiation in a cavity which is disposed adjacent to the ground plane of the printed circuit board and a ground plane of the antenna system. The feed network of the printed circuit board can be aligned with portions of the cavity such that the portions of the cavity function as a heat sink for absorbing or receiving thermal energy produced by the feed network.

Method and system for increasing RF bandwidth and beamwidth in a compact volume

A planar array antenna having radiating elements characterized by dual simultaneous polarization states and having substantially rotationally symmetric radiation patterns. A distribution network, which is connected to each dual polarized radiator, communicates the electromagnetic signals from and to each radiating element. A ground plane is positioned generally parallel to and spaced apart from the radiating elements by a predetermined distance. The conductive surface of the ground plane operates to image the radiating elements over a wide coverage area, thereby enabling a radiation pattern within an azimuth plane of the antenna to be independent of any quantity of radiating elements. Side walls, placed on each side of the array of radiators, can operate in tandem with the ground plane, to reduce the half-power beamwidth in the azimuth plane for a selected radiator design. A central polarization control network (PCN), which is connected to the distribution network, can control the polarization states of the received signals distributed via the distribution network by the radiating elements.

Growing community of inventors

Sugar Hill, GA, United States of America

James Crawford Carson