Patent ID: 8354959

Claim:
A control system for controlling the electrical tilt, i.e. the electrically controlled inclination of a radiated beam, of an antenna, e.g. a base station antenna, the antenna being provided with a casing accommodating a number of antenna elements, a feeder cable coupled to said antenna elements for feeding RF energy to and from said antenna elements, a phase shifting device including a tilt adjusting mechanism with a displaceable mechanical element for adjusting an electrical tilt setting of the antenna lobe being radiated from the antenna, said control system comprising an actuating device, including an electrical motor for actuating said displaceable mechanical element, and a position sensor for sensing the position of said displaceable mechanical element, wherein the control system is divided into two parts, namely a first part, including the entire tilt adjusting mechanism, said electrical motor and said position sensor, these elements constituting internal components being arranged inside the antenna casing, and a second part, including the remaining components of the control system, these components constituting external components, including an electrical motor control circuit, and a logic circuit determining the electrical tilt setting, said external components being disposed in at least one separate, external control unit located outside but in the vicinity of said antenna casing, and being adapted for operative coupling, by way of a direct electric wire connection or a capacitive coupling, to said internal components located inside said antenna casing whereby said first part and second part are interconnected with control and feedback lines to achieve closed loop control of movement of the mechanical element by way of signals.