Building antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12176596-B2
Application number	US-202017612479-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2020
Priority date	May 31, 2019
Publication date	Dec 24, 2024
Grant date	Dec 24, 2024

Abstract

Techniques for transceiving radio frequency (RF) signals through a window of a building are disclosed, the window having a first surface facing an interior of the building. An antenna arrangement is attached to a building structure adjacent the first surface and the antenna arrangement includes one or more radiating elements configured to transceive the RF signals through the window. In some embodiments, the building structure is mullion. In some embodiments a window surface includes an electrochromic and/or low emissivity coating that is excluded from a region proximate to the radiating elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for transceiving radio frequency (RF) signals, the system comprising:
(a) a window having a first surface facing, when installed in a building, an interior of the building; and
(b) an antenna arrangement configured to attach to a structure proximate to the first surface, wherein the antenna arrangement comprises one or more radiating elements configured to transceive the RF signals through the window; wherein:
the window includes a coating disposed on the first surface and/or on another surface parallel to the first surface, the coating (i) being an electrochromic device, (ii) having a low emissivity, and/or being antireflective;
the coating excludes a region proximate to the radiating elements; and
the region is formed by removing material from a portion of the coating, the material removed including transparent metal oxides and/or a conductive polymer or gel.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the removing is configured to create a pattern of removed and unremoved material that allows passive modification of electromagnetic energy passing through the window.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the removing is configured for facilitating reception of a cellular signal by tuning reception properties of a radio receiver.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the removing reduces attenuation by selectively removing material proximate to the radiating elements.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the removing is executed after the window is installed in the building.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the removing is executed using a portable device employs focused laser.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the structure proximate to the first surface is a window frame structure or a mullion.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein a mullion cap is disposed with the mullion, the mullion cap including a mullion cap body and at least one antenna wing, the antenna wing including the one or more radiating elements.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the mullion cap body is substantially elongate, extending, along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mullion.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the mullion cap body is substantially L-shaped in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mullion.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the mullion cap supports two or more antenna wings.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one antenna wing includes a glass substrate with the one or more radiating elements formed thereon.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one antenna wing is substantially transparent.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the glass substrate comprises a low alkali thin glass or a fusion drawn glass.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more radiating elements are laser etched from one or more transparent coatings on the glass substrate.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the transparent coatings include conductive metal oxide coatings.

17. The system of claim 8 , wherein the mullion cap includes vents extending from a proximal portion of the mullion cap body to a distal portion of the mullion cap body.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein, at the proximal portion of the mullion cap body, the vents are configured to provide for air intake to cool the mullion cap and/or communications electronics housed therein and include an exit at the distal portion of the mullion cap body to facilitate air exhaust.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein at least some vents are configured to include force air cooling provisions.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the antenna arrangement further comprises a radio in electrical communication with the radiating elements.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the antenna arrangement is configured to transceive radiofrequency signals in two polarization states.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein a single conductive radiating element of the one or more radiating elements provides the two polarization states and the antenna arrangement includes two ports and two transceivers to provide signals with two different polarization states.

23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the antenna arrangement has a substantially flat surface registered with the region of the window where the coating was removed.

24. The system of claim 1 , wherein the removing is configured for facilitating reception of a cellular signal by defining the shape, size, and/or location of the region.

25. A method of transceiving radio frequency (RF) signals, the method comprising:
(a) disposing a window in a building, the window having a first surface facing an interior of the building; and
(b) attaching an antenna arrangement to a building structure adjacent the first surface, wherein the antenna arrangement comprises one or more radiating elements configured to transceive the RF signals through the window; wherein:
the window includes a coating disposed on the first surface and/or on another surface parallel to the first surface, the coating (i) being an electrochromic device, (ii) having a low emissivity, and/or being antireflective;
the coating excludes a region proximate to the radiating elements; and
the region is formed by removing material from a portion of the coating, the material removed including transparent metal oxides and/or a conductive polymer or gel.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the coating excludes a region proximate to the radiating elements.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the antenna is configured to provide cellular coverage outside and inside the building.

Assignees

• View Inc

Inventors

• Rozbicki Robert T
• Brown Stephen Clark
• Trikha Nitesh
• Kearney Iii Philip F
• Sanford John
• Hughes Harold
• Antes Todd Daniel

Classifications

• H01Q21/24

  Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction {(circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001)} · CPC title

• H01Q21/061

  Two dimensional planar arrays · CPC title

• H01Q1/1271 Primary

  for mounting on windscreens · CPC title

• H01Q21/065

  Patch antenna array · CPC title

• H01Q1/38

  formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface  H01Q15/142)} · CPC title