Abstract
Provided is a dual polarized folded dipole element 1 including: four center portions 20 arranged adjacent to each other; and an element portion including two parallel wire portions 22, 23 extending in parallel to each other from different adjacent two of the center portions 20 and a short circuit portion 24 that short-circuits each two parallel wire portions 22, 23 at a distal end, in which: adjacent two of the center portions are physically connected to each other by the element portion; and the element portion extends in substantially the same plane in four directions from the center portions 20 with an angle of 90° therebetween. Also provided are antennae 10 and 10′ including the dual polarized folded dipole element 1.
Claims
1. A dual polarized folded dipole element comprising: four center portions arranged adjacent to each other; and an element portion including two parallel wire portions extending in parallel to each other from different adjacent two of the center portions and a short circuit portion that short-circuits each of the two parallel wire portions at distal ends; wherein two adjacent center portions are physically connected to each other by the element portion and the element portion extends in substantially the same plane in four directions from the center portions with an angle of 90° therebetween.
2. The dual polarized folded dipole element according to claim 1, further comprising a parasitic element arranged on a part of the center portions and a part of the element portion.
3. The dual polarized folded dipole element according to claim 2, wherein the parasitic element has a substantially cross shape.
4. The dual polarized folded dipole element according to claim 1, wherein a width of each of the two parallel wire portions at the distal end is smaller than a width of each of the two parallel wire portions at the center portions.
5. The dual polarized folded dipole element according to claim 1, wherein a length from the center portions to the distal end is λ.sub.1/4, λ.sub.1 being a wavelength of a lower limit frequency.
6. A dual polarized folded dipole antenna comprising: a reflection portion; and a dual polarized folded dipole element comprising: four center portions arranged adjacent to each other; and an element portion including two parallel wire portions extending in parallel to each other from different adjacent two of the center portions and a short circuit portion that short-circuits each of the two parallel wire portions at distal ends; wherein two adjacent center portions are physically connected to each other by the element portion and the element portion extends in substantially the same plane in four directions from the center portions with an angle of 90° therebetween; and wherein the dual polarized folded dipole element is attached to the reflection portion such that the parallel wire portion of each of the dual polarized folded dipole elements extends from the center portions in a ±45° direction with respect to a polarized wave direction.
7. The dual polarized folded dipole antenna according to claim 6, further comprising a radiating element corresponding to a different frequency band from low band and attached to the reflection portion, wherein the radiating element is arranged in the polarized wave direction of each of the dual polarized folded dipole elements.
8. The dual polarized folded dipole antenna according to claim 7, wherein the different frequency band is a high band.
9. A dual polarized folded dipole antenna comprising: a reflection portion; at least one low band radiating element attached to the reflection portion such that each radiating element extends in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; and at least one dual polarized folded dipole element comprising: four center portions arranged adjacent to each other; and an element portion including two parallel wire portions extending in parallel to each other from different adjacent two of the center portions and a short circuit portion that short-circuits each of the two parallel wire portions at distal ends; wherein two adjacent center portions are physically connected to each other by the element portion and the element portion extends in substantially the same plane in four directions from the center portions with an angle of 90° therebetween; and wherein the at least one dual polarized folded dipole element is arranged adjacent to the at least one low band radiating element at a predetermined element interval and attached to the reflection portion such that the two parallel wire portions of each of the dual polarized folded dipole elements extends in a ±45° direction with respect to the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.
10. The dual polarized folded dipole antenna according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined element interval is no greater than 0.5λ.sub.1, λ.sub.1 being a wavelength of a lower limit frequency of the dual polarized folded dipole element.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a dual polarized folded dipole element 1 as an embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 (A) is a schematic view of a typical folded dipole element 2′;
[0031] FIG. 2 (B) shows an electric current flowing in each of the two parallel wire portions of the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 in a case in which power is fed to the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 in which two L-shaped folded dipole elements 1 and 2 each obtained by deforming a folded dipole element 2′ in the center portion are arranged in a substantially cross shape, from the feeding point in the polarized wave direction of 45°;
[0032] FIG. 3 shows an electric current distribution in the dual polarized folded dipole element 1;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a graph showing return loss of the dual polarized folded dipole element 1;
[0034] FIG. 5 (A) is a schematic view showing another dual polarized folded dipole element 1a, which is the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 to which a parasitic element 4 is added;
[0035] FIG. 5 (B) is a cross-sectional view of another dual polarized folded dipole element 1a when the cross section shown in FIG. 5 (A) is viewed from X direction;
[0036] FIG. 6 is a graph showing return loss of another dual polarized folded dipole element 1a;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a graph showing the actual measured values of the return loss and of the coupling amount between polarized waves of the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a as an element alone;
[0038] FIG. 8 (A) illustrates a dual polarized antenna 10 including a plurality of antenna sets in which the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a and four high-band radiating elements 120a to 120d arranged in the polarized wave direction are attached to the reflection portion 130;
[0039] FIG. 8 (B) illustrates a conventional dual polarized antenna 1000′ including a plurality of antenna sets in which two low-band radiating elements 110a′ and 110b′ and four high-band radiating elements 120a′ to 120d′, all arranged in the polarized wave direction, are attached to the reflection portion 130′;
[0040] FIG. 9 (A) is a graph showing high-band return loss of the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 8 (A);
[0041] FIG. 9 (B) is a graph showing high-band return loss of the configuration in which a parasitic element is added to the dual polarized folded dipole element according to the present invention shown in FIG. 8 (B) corresponding to the low band (900 MHz band);
[0042] FIG. 9 (C) is a graph showing return loss of the configuration with only the high-band radiating elements, that is the configurations of FIGS. 8 (A) and 8 (B) without the low-band radiating elements;
[0043] FIG. 10 (A) is a graph showing the horizontal plane directivity in the high-band (2000 MHz band) regarding the conventional configuration in FIG. 8 (A) and the configuration of the present invention in FIG. 8 (B);
[0044] FIG. 10 (B) is a graph showing the vertical plane directivity in the high-band (2000 MHz band) regarding the conventional configuration in FIG. 8 (A) and the configuration of the present invention in FIG. 8 (B);
[0045] FIG. 11 (A) illustrates an antenna 10′ as an embodiment of the present invention in which the conventional low-band radiating element 100 arranged in horizontal and vertical polarized wave directions and another dual polarized folded dipole element 1a′ arranged at 45° with respect to the VH horizontal and vertical polarized wave directions are alternately arranged at an element interval D′;
[0046] FIG. 11 (B) illustrates a conventional antenna 1100 including a plurality of conventional low-band radiating elements 100 arranged in the horizontal and vertical polarized wave directions at an element interval D;
[0047] FIG. 12 is a graph showing a difference in generated grating lobes between the cases of arranging the four radiating elements with the element intervals 0.5λ and 0.7λ respectively, in a case in which a phase with electrical tilt of 30° is fed to each element and λ is a wavelength of the lower limit frequency;
[0048] FIG. 13 (A) illustrates an example of the conventional dual polarized dipole element 100′;
[0049] FIG. 13(B) shows an electric current distribution in a case in which power is fed to the conventional dual polarized dipole element 100′;
[0050] FIG. 13 (C) illustrates return loss of the conventional dual polarized dipole element 100′;
[0051] FIG. 14 illustrates an example of the conventional dual polarized antenna including sets of conventional dual polarized antennae each including the conventional dual polarized dipole element 100′ and the conventional high-band radiating elements 120a to 120d;
[0052] FIG. 15 (A) illustrates an example of another conventional dual polarized antenna including sets of other conventional dual polarized antennae in which the conventional low-band radiating elements 110a″ and 110b″ do not overlap in the reflection directions of the elements 120a′ to 120b′ constituting the conventional high-band radiating element 120a;
[0053] FIG. 15 (B) illustrates a hybrid circuit used for inputting a phase of 0° to the conventional low-band radiating element 110a″ of the other conventional dual polarized antenna shown in (A) and synthesizing to 110b″ with a phase difference of 180°;
[0054] FIG. 16 (A) illustrates the conventional X-shaped dual polarized dipole element 200 in which spaces for arranging other radiating elements in the polarized wave direction, that is ±45° direction, are secured, without employing the hybrid circuit;
[0055] FIG. 16 (B) shows an electric current distribution of the conventional X-shaped dual polarized dipole element 200 in a case in which power is fed in the polarized wave direction, that is ±45° direction;
[0056] FIG. 16 (C) is a graph showing return loss of the conventional X-shaped dual polarized dipole element 200;
[0057] FIG. 17 (A) illustrates another conventional X-shaped dual polarized dipole element 300, which is the conventional X-shaped dual polarized dipole element 200 to which the parasitic element 240 is added;
[0058] FIG. 17 (B) is a cross-sectional view of the other conventional dual polarized dipole element 300 when the cross section shown in FIG. 17 (A) is viewed from the X′ direction;
[0059] FIG. 17 (C) illustrates a simplified electric current distribution in the conventional X-shaped dual polarized dipole element 200 illustrated in FIG. 16 (B); and
[0060] FIG. 18 is a graph showing return loss of the conventional X-shaped dual polarized dipole element 300.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0061] FIG. 1 shows the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 as an embodiment of the present invention. The dual polarized folded dipole element 1 is attached to the reflection portion 3, which is a flat metal plate. The dual polarized folded dipole element 1 includes: four center portions 20 arranged adjacent to each other; and an element portion including two parallel wire portions 22, 23 extending in parallel to each other from two different adjacent center portions 20 and a short circuit portion 24 that short-circuits each two parallel wire portions 22, 23 at a distal end. Here, in the dual polarized folded dipole element 1, the adjacent center portions are physically connected to each other by the four element portions, and each of the element portions extends in substantially the same plane in four directions from the center portions 20 with an angle of 90° therebetween. As described above, the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 in a substantially cross shape as a whole has spaces enabling radiating elements of other frequency bands such as a high band to be arranged in the polarized wave direction (±45° direction) as shown by four round dotted lines in FIG. 1. In addition, the width of each of the two parallel wire portions 22, 23 is reduced in the vicinity of the short circuit portion 24. Due to the widths of the two parallel wire portions 22, 23 being reduced in the vicinity of the short circuit portion 24, impedance matching of the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 is facilitated. Note that, although the reflection portion 3 is a flat metal plate in FIG. 1, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the reflection portion 3 may be metal mesh.
[0062] First, with reference to FIG. 2 (A), the operation principle of the typical folded dipole element 2′ is described, including the center portion 20′ with the power feed unit, the two parallel wire portions 22′ and 23′ extending from the center portion 20′ to the distal end, and the short circuit portion 24′ that short-circuits the two parallel wire portions 22′, 23′ at the distal end. Here, in a case in which an interval between the two adjacent parallel wire portions 22′ and 23′ is sufficiently small compared to the fundamental wavelength of the antenna, the electric current flowing in the two adjacent parallel wire portions 22′ and 23′ has a characteristic of having the equal phase in each wire and collectively flowing in the two parallel wire portions 22′ and 23′. Such a characteristic is disclosed in, for example, pages 77 to 78 of Non-patent Literature 1. The impedance of the typical folded dipole element 2′ as described above is about 300Ω.
[0063] Next, with reference to FIG. 2 (B), an electric current of a polarized wave component flowing in the two parallel wire portions 22, 23 of the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 shown in FIG. 1 (A) in a case in which power is fed from the center portion 20 with the polarized wave direction of 45° is described. Here, the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 can be considered separately as two L-shaped folded dipole elements 2a and 2b each obtained by deforming the folded dipole element 2′ shown in FIG. 2 (A) into an L-shape in the center portion 20′ (each surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 2 (B)). Thus, as indicated by two arrows in FIG. 2 (B), the two parallel wire portions 22, 23 of each of the two L-shaped folded dipole elements 2a and 2b operates to excite. Furthermore, as indicated in FIG. 2 (B), the electric current of the polarized wave component flowing in the two parallel wire portions 22, 23 of each of the two L-shaped folded dipole elements 2a and 2b has equal phase and size, and flows collectively in the two wires. Note that the impedance of the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 is about 200Ω, due to including the two L-shaped folded dipole elements 2a and 2b.
[0064] FIG. 3 shows an electric current distribution of the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 in a case in which power is fed in the polarized wave direction, that is, the 45° direction. The dual polarized folded dipole element 1 has a heavy electric current distribution in the same direction over the entire parallel wire portions 22, 23 of the two wires. It can thus be seen that the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 radiates as the whole element.
[0065] FIG. 4 is a graph showing return loss of the dual polarized folded dipole element 1. With the dual polarized folded dipole element 1, the return loss of no greater than −10 dB (indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 4) is in a range from 740 to 780 MHz, and the fractional bandwidth is 5%.
[0066] FIG. 5 (A) shows another dual polarized folded dipole element 1a, which is the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 to which the parasitic element 4 is added. Here, the parasitic element 4 may be a metal plate placed on the center portion 20 of the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 and the parallel wire portions 22, 23 of the two wires. For example, the parasitic element 4 may contain copper or aluminum. In addition, the parasitic element 4 extends from the center portion 20 of the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 to the distal ends of the parallel wire portions 22, 23 of the two wires respectively. The parasitic element 4 thus has a substantially cross shape as a whole. In addition, FIG. 5 (B) shows a cross-sectional view of another dual polarized folded dipole element 1a when the cross section shown in FIG. 5 (A) is viewed from the X direction. The parallel wire portions 22, 23 of the two wires of the dual polarized folded dipole element 1a are each arranged between the parasitic element 4 and the reflection portion 3.
[0067] Here, with the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a, the peak position due to the parasitic element 4 (corresponding to the peak position in the vicinity of 970 MHz in FIG. 6) can be adjusted by, for example, adjusting the length of the parasitic element 4 extending to each distal end of the element portion of the dual polarized folded dipole element 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2 (B), with the dual polarized folded dipole element 1, the electric current flowing in the two parallel wire portions 22, 23 of each of the two L-shaped folded dipole elements 2a and 2b has the equal phase and size, and flows collectively in the two wires (in other words, with the dual polarized folded dipole element 1, the undesired wave due to coupling illustrated in FIGS. 16 (B) and 17 (B) is not generated). The same applies to another dual polarized folded dipole element 1a (including the dual polarized folded dipole element 1). As a result, the impedance of the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a can be maintained at a predetermined value with no influence from the aforementioned undesired wave. Note that, the impedance of the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a is changed from 200 n to about 150 n due to adding the parasitic element 4, and matching is easier than in the case without the parasitic element.
[0068] FIG. 6 is a graph showing return loss of the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a. With the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a, the return loss of −10 dB is in a range from 760 to 1000 MHz, and fractional bandwidth is 27%, thus achieving broadening of the band. This is considered to be achieved by an increase in the peak due to the parasitic element 4 (peak in the vicinity of 970 MHz in FIG. 6), as a result of resonance obtained between the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 and the parasitic element 4.
[0069] FIGS. 7 (A) to 7 (C) show the actual measured values of the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a as a single element. Here, FIG. 7 (A) is a graph showing the actual measured value of the return loss of the +45° polarized wave of the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a as a single element. In addition, FIG. 7 (B) is a graph showing the actual measured value of the return loss of the −45° polarized wave of the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a as a single element. As indicated by a solid line in FIGS. 7 (A) and 7 (B), with the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a as a single element, a return loss of no greater than −10 dB is in a range from 650 to 950 MHz, and fractional bandwidth is 37%. Furthermore, FIG. 7 (C) is a graph showing the actual measured values of the coupling amount between polarized waves of the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a as an element alone. As indicated by a solid line in FIG. 7 (C), with the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a as a single element, the return loss of no greater than −10 dB is in a range from 650 to 950 MHz, and the coupling amount between polarized waves is about −25 dB.
[0070] In the foregoing, characteristics as elements alone of the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 and the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a, which is the dual polarized folded dipole element 1 to which the parasitic element 4 is added, have been described. Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 (A) and 8 (B), a dual polarized antenna including different radiating elements corresponding to different frequency bands, such as a low band and a high band, is described.
[0071] Here, FIG. 8 (A) illustrates a dual polarized antenna 10 including a plurality of antenna sets in which the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B) and the four high-band radiating elements 120a to 120d arranged in the polarized wave direction (in the ±45° direction indicated by two arrows on the lower side of FIG. 8 (B)) are attached to the reflection portion 130. In addition, for comparison with the FIG. 8 (A), FIG. 8 (B) illustrates a conventional dual polarized antenna 1000′ including a plurality of antenna sets in which two low-band radiating elements 110a′ and 110b′, and four high-band radiating elements 120a′ to 120d′, all arranged in the polarized wave direction (in the ±45° direction indicated by two arrows on the lower side of FIG. 8 (B)) are attached to the reflection portion 130′. Here, in FIG. 8 (B), (as illustrated in FIG. 14) in each set of the conventional dual polarized antenna 1000′, the two low-band radiating elements 110a′ and 110b′ and the four high-band radiating elements 120a′ to 120d′ overlap each other in the radiating direction. As a result, with the dual polarized antenna 1000′, the high-band radiating elements 120a′ to 120d′ are remarkably affected by interference with the low-band radiating elements 110a′ and 110b′.
[0072] Next, FIGS. 9 (A) and 9 (B) show graphs of comparison of return loss regarding the high-band radiating elements, each surrounded by a dotted line in FIGS. 8 (A) and 8 (B) (both being the fifth high-band radiating element from the top in the left column) when power is fed with a +45° polarized wave. FIG. 9 (A) is a graph showing return loss, as an element alone, of the high-band radiating element surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 8 (A). The return loss of such a high-band radiating element is affected by the low-band radiating element in the vicinity of 2.5 GHz (surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 9 (A)), but the influence of the low-band radiating element is reduced in other frequency bands. On the other hand, FIG. 9 (B) is a graph showing return loss, as an element alone, of the high-band radiating element surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 8 (B). The return loss of such a high-band radiating element is affected by the low-band radiating element over a range from 2 GHz to 3 GHz (surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 9 (B)). Note that FIG. 9 (C) is, for comparison, a graph showing return loss of the antenna set with only the high-band radiating elements, that is the conventional dual polarized antenna 1000′ shown in FIG. 8 (B) without the low-band radiating elements. Here, comparing the range from 2 GHz to 3 GHz of FIGS. 9 (A) and 9 (C) with the range from 2 GHz to 3 GHz of FIGS. 9 (B) and 9 (C), the return loss characteristic of FIG. 9 (A) is closer to the return loss characteristic of FIG. 9 (C) than to the return loss characteristic of FIG. 9 (B). In other words, with the dual polarized antenna set 10 shown in FIG. 8 (A), influence from the low-band radiating element, that is, the influence to the coupling amount, is reduced compared to the conventional antenna set 1000′ in FIG. 8 (B).
[0073] FIG. 10 (A) is a graph showing the horizontal plane directivity in the high-band (2000 MHz band) regarding the dual polarized antenna 10 in FIG. 8 (A) and the conventional dual polarized antenna 1000′ in FIG. 8 (B). FIG. 10 (B) is a graph showing the vertical plane directivity in the high-band (2000 MHz band) regarding the dual polarized antenna 10 in FIG. 8 (A) and the conventional dual polarized antenna 1000′ in FIG. 8 (B). Note that, for comparison, FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B) show, by dotted lines, the horizontal plane directivity and the vertical plane directivity in a high band (2000 MHz band) regarding the configuration in which all the low-band radiating elements are removed from the conventional dual polarized antenna 1000′ in FIG. 8 (B). With the dual polarized antenna 10 shown by the solid line in FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B), deterioration of the horizontal plane directivity and the vertical plane directivity is reduced, compared to the conventional dual polarized antenna 1000′ shown by the dotted line in FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B). In particular, with the dual polarized antenna 10, deterioration of the horizontal plane directivity and the vertical plane directivity is reduced compared to the conventional dual polarized antenna 1000′ in the vicinity of 30° to 90° surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 10 (A) and in the vicinity of 45° to 60° surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 10 (B). Note that, comparing the configuration in which all the low-band radiating elements are removed from the conventional dual polarized antenna 1000′ (shown by the dotted line in FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B)) with the conventional dual polarized antenna 1000′, it can be seen that the conventional dual polarized antenna 1000′ is affected by the low-band radiating elements in terms of the horizontal plane directivity and the vertical plane directivity.
[0074] Next, with reference to FIGS. 11 (A) and 11 (B), an antenna including a plurality of radiating elements corresponding to predetermined frequency bands, such as a low band in the horizontal and vertical polarized waves (VH polarized wave sharing) is described. Typically, as shown in FIG. 11 (B), an element length L of the conventional radiating element 100 is preferably about 0.5λ.sub.1, λ.sub.1 being the wavelength of the lower limit wavelength. For this reason, in the horizontal and vertical polarized waves, in the case of the antenna including a plurality of the same radiating elements corresponding to a predetermined frequency band, an element interval D of the radiating elements needs to be about 0.5λ.sub.1, similar to the element length L as shown in FIG. 11 (B), in order to avoid mechanical contact between the radiating elements.
[0075] Note that, while the element interval D from the viewpoint of the wavelength λ.sub.1 of the lower limit frequency is about 0.5λ.sub.1, the element interval D from the viewpoint of the wavelength λ.sub.2 of the upper limit frequency is greater than 0.5 in the wavelength ratio. For example, in the case in which the frequency band is 700 to 1000 MHz (fractional bandwidth: 35%), the wavelength λ.sub.1 of the lower limit frequency is 700 MHz (wavelength λ.sub.1: 428 mm) and the wavelength λ.sub.2 of the upper limit frequency is 1000 MHz (wavelength λ.sub.2: 300 mm). Given this, the element length L (L=220 mm) of the radiating element can be represented by using the wavelength λ.sub.1 and the wavelength λ.sub.2 as 0.51λ.sub.1 or 0.73λ.sub.2. In other words, it is to be noted that in the case of a broad band, the higher the frequency of the fractional bandwidth is, the element interval L represented by the wavelength λ.sub.2 of the upper limit frequency increases by the wavelength ratio with the wavelength λ.sub.1 of the lower limit frequency.
[0076] FIG. 11 (A) illustrates an antenna 10′ as an embodiment of the present invention in which the conventional low-band radiating element 100 arranged in horizontal and vertical polarized wave directions and another dual polarized folded dipole element 1a′ arranged at 45° with respect to the horizontal and vertical polarized wave directions are alternately arranged at an element interval D′. On the other hand, FIG. 11 (B) illustrates a conventional dual polarized antenna 1100 including a plurality of conventional low-band radiating elements 100 arranged in the horizontal and vertical polarized wave directions at an element interval D. In the dual polarized antenna 10′ in FIG. 11 (A), the other dual polarized folded dipole element 1a′ is arranged at 45° with respect to the horizontal and vertical polarized wave directions, the element interval D′ in FIG. 11 (A) can thus be smaller than the element interval D in FIG. 11 (B). In other words, in the dual polarized antenna 10′ in FIG. 11 (A), the low-band radiating elements can be arranged more densely on the reflection portion 130 than in the conventional dual polarized antenna 1100 in FIG. 11 (B). As a result, the dual polarized antenna 10′ in FIG. 11 (A) can inhibit a grating lobe over a broad band. Note that, the fact that arranging the plurality of low-band radiating elements with a small element interval (in other words, densely arranging) can inhibit a grating lobe is described with reference to FIG. 12.
[0077] FIG. 12 is a graph showing a difference in generated grating lobes between the cases of arranging the same four low-band radiating elements with the element intervals 0.5λ and 0.7λ respectively, in a case in which a phase with electrical tilt of 30° is fed to each element and X is a wavelength of the lower limit frequency. FIG. 12 indicates that more grating lobes are generated in a direction different from that of the main lobe in the vicinity of +30° in the case in which the element interval is 0.7λ, than in the case of 0.5λ. In other words, the shorter element interval (denser arrangement) of the low-band radiating elements inhibits generation of a grating lobe. Note that such a level of the grating lobe is increased by applying a greater electric tilt.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0078] The present invention has been described in terms of examples of a base station antenna of a mobile communication system and the like. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to such a base station antenna of a mobile communication system and the like, and may be applied to an antenna of any intended usage.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0079] 1 Dual polarized folded dipole element [0080] 1a Another dual polarized folded dipole element [0081] 20 Center portion [0082] 22, 23 Parallel wire portion [0083] 24 Short circuit portion [0084] 3, 130, 130′ Reflection portion [0085] 4, 240 Parasitic element [0086] 10, 10′ Dual polarized antenna [0087] 100, 100′, 100″ Dual polarized dipole element (Conventional example) [0088] 110a′ to 110d′, 110a″ to 110d″ Low band radiating element (Conventional example)
