Systems and methods of antenna orientation in a point-to-point wireless network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10051486-B2
Application number	US-201615289847-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2016
Priority date	Aug 11, 2011
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

An exemplary method comprises positioning a first antenna to receive a first signal from a second antenna, the second antenna comprising energy absorbing material that functions to expand beamwidth, receiving the first signal from the second antenna, detecting a plurality of gains based on the first signal, repositioning the first antenna relative to the second antenna to a position associated with an acceptable gain based on the first signal, removing at least some of the energy absorbing material from the second antenna to narrow the beamwidth of the second antenna, receiving, by the first antenna, a second signal from the second antenna, detecting a plurality of gains based on the second signal, and repositioning the first antenna relative to the second antenna to a position associated with an increased gain of the plurality of gains based on the second signal, the increased gain being greater than the acceptable gain.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An antenna configuration method comprising:
positioning a first antenna in a fixed terrestrial point-to-point system to a first position relative to a second antenna in the fixed terrestrial point-to-point system to receive a signal from the second antenna, the first position of the first antenna corresponding to a first antenna alignment orientation of the first antenna relative to the second antenna, the first antenna alignment orientation of the first antenna including a first azimuth and a first elevation;
moving the first azimuth or the first elevation of the first antenna relative to the first position, while the first antenna has an energy absorbing material coupled thereto causing a beamwidth reception pattern to broaden to a first beamwidth reception pattern for receiving the signal from the second antenna, and while using a first meter coupled to the first antenna to measure a first signal characteristic of the signal, wherein the energy absorbing material is included in a diaphragm attachable to the first antenna;
repositioning the first antenna to a second position relative to the second antenna after detecting an acceptable threshold in the first signal characteristic of the signal, the second position of the first antenna corresponding to a second antenna alignment orientation of the first antenna relative to the second antenna, the second antenna alignment orientation of the first antenna having a second azimuth and a second elevation;
removing the energy absorbing material from the first antenna causing the first beamwidth reception pattern to narrow to a second beamwidth reception pattern for receiving the signal from the second antenna, the second beamwidth reception pattern being narrower than the first beamwidth reception pattern;
moving the second azimuth or the second elevation of the first antenna relative to the second position, after the energy absorbing material has been removed, while using a second meter to measure a second signal characteristic of the signal from the second antenna; and
repositioning the first antenna to a third position relative to the second antenna after detecting an improvement in the second signal characteristic, the third position of the first antenna corresponding to a third antenna alignment orientation of the first antenna relative to the second antenna, the third antenna alignment orientation of the first antenna having a third azimuth and a third elevation, and the third position of the first antenna causing improved communication with the second antenna relative to the second position of the first antenna.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are parabolic antennas.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first or second signal characteristic includes signal gain, a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) characteristic, or a Received Signal Level (RSL) of the signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using an antenna mount to reposition the first antenna relative to the second antenna.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing material is configured to narrow an aperture of the first antenna to broaden the beamwidth reception pattern to the first beamwidth reception pattern.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is attachable to a rim of the first antenna.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing material includes a reflector.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first or second meter comprises a voltmeter configured to measure a voltage associated with a signal characteristic of an Outdoor Unit (ODU) coupled to the first antenna.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first meter and the second meter are the same meter.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic are the same characteristic.

11. A first antenna in a fixed terrestrial point-to-point system configured to:
be positioned during installation to a first position relative to a second antenna in the fixed terrestrial point-to-point system to receive a signal from the second antenna, the first position of the first antenna corresponding to a first antenna alignment orientation of the first antenna relative to the second antenna, the first antenna alignment orientation of the first antenna including a first azimuth and a first elevation;
be moved during a configuration process relative to the first position, the moving comprising moving the first azimuth or the first elevation of the first antenna, while the first antenna has an energy absorbing material attached thereto causing a beamwidth reception pattern to broaden to a first beamwidth reception pattern for receiving the signal from the second antenna, and while using a first meter coupled to the first antenna to measure a first signal characteristic of the signal, wherein the energy absorbing material is included in a diaphragm attachable to the first antenna;
be repositioned during the configuration process to a second position relative to the second antenna after detecting an acceptable threshold in the first signal characteristic of the signal, the second position of the first antenna corresponding to a second antenna alignment orientation of the first antenna relative to the second antenna, the second antenna alignment orientation of the first antenna having a second azimuth and a second elevation;
have the energy absorbing material removed therefrom during the configuration process to narrow the first beamwidth reception pattern to a second beamwidth reception pattern for receiving the signal from the second antenna, the second beamwidth reception pattern being narrower than the first beamwidth reception pattern;
be moved during the configuration process relative to the second position, the moving comprising moving the second azimuth or the second elevation of the first antenna, after the energy absorbing material has been removed, while using a second meter to measure a second signal characteristic of the signal from the second antenna; and
be repositioned during the configuration process to a third position relative to the second antenna after detecting an improvement in the second signal characteristic, the third position of the first antenna corresponding to a third antenna alignment orientation of the first antenna relative to the second antenna, the third antenna alignment orientation of the first antenna having a third azimuth and a third elevation, and the third position of the first antenna causing improved communication with the second antenna relative to the second position of the first antenna.

12. The first antenna of claim 11 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are parabolic antennas.

13. The first antenna of claim 11 , wherein the first or second signal characteristic includes signal gain, a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) characteristic, or a Received Signal Level (RSL) of the signal.

14. The first antenna of claim 11 , wherein the first antenna is configured to be repositioned relative to the second antenna using an antenna mount.

15. The first antenna of claim 11 , wherein the energy absorbing material is configured to narrow an aperture of the first antenna to broaden the beamwidth reception pattern to the first beamwidth reception pattern.

16. The first antenna of claim 11 , wherein the diaphragm is attachable to a rim of the first antenna.

17. The first antenna of claim 11 , wherein the energy absorbing material includes a reflector.

18. The first antenna of claim

Assignees

• Aviat Us Inc

Inventors

• Vilhar Robert

Classifications

• H04B17/12

  of transmit antennas, e.g. of the amplitude or phase · CPC title

• G01R29/10

  Radiation diagrams of antennas · CPC title

• H01Q25/002

  providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas · CPC title

• H01Q1/1257

  using the received signal strength · CPC title

• H01Q17/001 Primary

  for modifying the directional characteristic of an aerial · CPC title