Base station antenna arrangement

DETAILED DESCRIPTION According to the present invention there is provided an antenna comprising: a plurality of layered antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, the arrays being positioned such that the beams provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array; characterised in that the antenna includes a plurality of receive amplifiers one for each beam of an antenna array; means for combining the outputs of the plurality of receive amplifiers; switching means for applying the combined receive signals to the r.
f.
transceiver handling the given call; and single power amplifier for transmitting r.
f.
signals for the given call for applying the transceiver transmit signal to an individual one of the beams.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an antenna comprising: a plurality of layered antenna arrays each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, the arrays being positioned such that the beams provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array,further including; means for operating the antenna arrays whereby individual narrow overlapping beams are utilised for exchange of r.
f.
signals with individual remote stations in the areas covered by the respective narrow beams and simultaneously the totality of the multiplicity of narrow overlapping beams are utilised collectively to provide an omni-directional antenna radiation pattern.
According to a further aspect of the invention the antenna includes azimuth beamforming means for each array; a plurality of r.
f.
transceivers each for transmitting and receiving r.
f.
signals for one or more calls; switching matrix means for connecting each transceiver with one or other of the arrays via the beamforming means; and control means for controlling the switch matrix means whereby a particular transceiver is connected to a particular array, via the beamforming means, to exchange r.
f.
signals with a remote station located in the area covered by the antenna