Window-mounted antenna unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11056780-B2
Application number	US-201715825236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2017
Priority date	Nov 29, 2017
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

An RF antenna system includes a first unit that further includes first attachment means that secures the first unit to a window, and an antenna. The first unit additionally includes an RF transceiver, coupled to the antenna, that receives, via the antenna, incoming RF signals and converts the RF signals to first electrical signals; and first optical means that transmits the first electrical signals as first optical signals through the first surface of the window. The RF antenna system also includes a second unit that includes second attachment means that secures the second unit to the window. The second unit also includes second optical means that receive the first optical signals through the second surface of the window, convert the first optical signals to first digital signals, and transmit the first digital signals to a device connected to the second unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A radio frequency (RF) antenna system, comprising:
a first unit comprising:
a housing;
a first attachment component to secure the first unit to a first surface of a window, wherein the first attachment component is located on a surface of the first unit at a first side of the housing;
wireless power reception circuitry located at the first side of the housing;
an antenna located at a second side of the housing opposite the first side of the housing;
an RF transceiver, coupled to the antenna and a first optical mechanism, to receive, via the antenna, incoming RF signals, and convert the RF signals to first electrical signals; and
the first optical mechanism, coupled to the RF transceiver and located between the RF transceiver and the wireless power reception circuitry, comprising a first optical window and a second optical window that include optical conduits that extend from the first optical mechanism through the first side of the housing of the first unit to the surface of the first unit adjacent the wireless power reception circuitry, wherein the first optical mechanism is to transmit the first electrical signals as first optical signals through the first optical window and the first surface of the window, and wherein the first optical mechanism is to receive second optical signals through the first surface of the window and the second optical window.

2. The RF antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a phased array antenna or a waveguide planar antenna.

3. The RF antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the first attachment component comprises one of adhesive, a suction cup, or a magnet.

4. The RF antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the first optical mechanism comprises one of a laser diode, a photo transmitter, or a light emitting diode (LED).

5. The RF antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the first optical window comprises a first segment of optical fiber through which the first optical mechanism transmits the first optical signals.

6. The RF antenna system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second unit comprising:
a second attachment component to secure the second unit to a second surface of the window;
a second optical mechanism to:
receive the first optical signals through the second surface of the window, wherein the second optical mechanism is aligned with the first optical mechanism of the first unit,
convert the first optical signals to first digital signals, and
transmit the first digital signals to a device within, or coupled to, the second unit.

7. The RF antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the first attachment component and the second attachment component comprise at least one magnet.

8. The RF antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the second unit further comprises:
wireless power transmission circuitry to wirelessly transfer power through the window to the first unit, and
wherein the wireless power reception circuitry receives the power wirelessly transferred through the window by the wireless power transmission circuitry of the second unit.

9. The RF antenna system of claim 7 , wherein the wireless power transmission circuitry includes a first coil and wherein the wireless power reception circuitry comprises a second coil.

10. The RF antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the second optical mechanism comprises one of a photodiode, a photoreceiver, or a phototransistor.

11. The RF antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the first unit comprises an outdoor unit and the second unit comprises an indoor unit.

12. The RF antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the second optical mechanism is further to:
receive incoming second electrical signals from the device, and
transmit the second electrical signals as the second optical signals through the second surface of the window to the first unit;
wherein the first optical mechanism is further to:
receive the second optical signals transmitted through the window,
convert the second optical signals to second electrical signals, and

wherein the RF transceiver is further configured to:
transmit, via the antenna, the second electrical signals as outgoing RF signals.

13. The RF antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the first optical mechanism comprises a first optical transceiver and wherein the second optical mechanism comprises a second optical transceiver.

14. The RF antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the device within, or coupled to, the second unit comprises a router or switch.

15. The RF antenna system of claim 12 , wherein the device within, or coupled to, the second unit comprises a router or switch.

16. The RF antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the RF antenna system operates as a micro-cell of a cellular network.

17. The RF antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the first attachment component attaches, affixes, connects, couples, or clamps the first unit to, or braces the first unit against, the first surface of the window.

18. The RF antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the antenna transmits and receives RF signals in the millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum.

19. The RF antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the second attachment component attaches, affixes, connects, couples, or clamps the second unit to, or braces the second unit against, the second surface of the window.

20. The RF antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the device within, or coupled to, the second unit comprises a router and wherein the second unit further comprises:
a wireless transceiver for establishing a wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or Personal Area Network (PAN) with the router for transmitting data to, and receiving data from, the router, including transmitting the first digital signals to the router via the WLAN or the PAN.

Assignees

• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Polehn Donna L
• Weisbrod Fred

Classifications

• H01Q3/26

  varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture ({H01Q3/12,} H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q5/22

  RF wavebands combined with non-RF wavebands, e.g. infrared or optical · CPC title

• H01Q1/44 Primary

  using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna {, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect}(H01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q23/00

  Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them · CPC title

• H01Q1/1221

  onto a wall · CPC title