US Patent 7388556 Antenna providing downtilt and preserving half power beam width

A panel antenna is provided having one or more radiating elements and a series of directors associated with each radiating element. Each series of directors is angled with respect to a direction of maximum radiation of the associated radiating element, in order to tilt the panel antenna beam. The directors may be dimensioned and/or arranged such that they couple weakly to radiation of a wavelength emitted by the associated radiating element. The directors may be dimensioned and/or arranged such that they are non-resonant at the wavelength emitted by the associated radiating element. The directors may be smaller than the length of an associated dipole radiating element.