BASE STATION ANTENNAS INCLUDING WIPER PHASE SHIFTERS
FIG2C is a schematic cross-sectional view of a phase shifter assembly for a base station antenna according to embodiments of the present inventive concepts
FIG2C is a schematic cross-sectional view of a phase shifter assembly 100 for a base station antenna according to embodiments of the present inventive concepts. In particular, FIG2C illustrates a vertical stack that includes the wiper PCB 223-1 on the main PCB 230-1, and the wiper support 140-1 on the wiper PCB 223-1, on the first level 110-1L of the housing 110. Similarly, the wiper PCBs 223-2, 223-3, and 223-4 are on the main PCBs 230-2, 230-3, and 230-4, respectively, and the wiper supports 140-2, 140-3, 140-4 are on the wiper PCBs 223-2, 223-3, and 223-4, respectively. FIG2C also illustrates that the linkages 170-1 and 170-2, which are coupled to the linkage 160, are on the wiper supports 140-1 and 140-4, respectively. As illustrated in FIG2C, the two inner/middle main PCBs 230-2 and 230-3 are closer to each other than to the outer main PCBs 230-1 and 230-4. Similarly, the two inner/middle main PCBs 230-6 and 230-7 are closer to each other than to the outer main PCBs 230-5 and 230-8. For example, in some embodiments, the main PCBs 230-2 and 230-3 may contact each other, and the main PCBs 230-6 and 230-7 may contact each other. The main PCBs 230-2 and 230-3 are horizontally spaced apart, however, from the main PCBs 230-1 and 230-4, respectively, and the main PCBs 230-6 and 230-7 are horizontally spaced apart from the main PCBs 230-5 and 230-8, respectively.
schematic cross-sectional view
160
linkage linkages
100
phase shifter assembly
2
frequencies lower than using frequencies such as using other frequencies between in particular Aspect
180
linkage linkages
110
housing
['4. The base station antenna of either of Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the first and second pluralities of gear teeth (340-GT) extend less than 360 degrees around the first and second wiper supports (140-1, 140-2), respectively, and wherein the first wiper support (140-1) comprises a built-in lever linkage portion (370-BI) that protrudes beyond the first plurality of gear teeth (340-GT).', '14. A method of operating a base station antenna, the method comprising: driving (Block 540) rotational movement of a first plurality of phase shifter wiper supports (140-2, 140-3) of a plurality of inboard phase shifters (120-2, 120-3), respectively, of a phase shifter assembly (100) by driving (Block 530) rotational movement of a second plurality of phase shifter wiper supports (140-1, 140-4) of a plurality of outboard phase shifters (120-1, 120-4), respectively, of the phase shifter assembly (100).']