Apparatus for attaching a gimbal to a structure and method of manufacturing such apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12548882-B2
Application number	US-202318358363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2023
Priority date	Jul 26, 2022
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

An apparatus for attaching a gimbal for an antenna to a structure, the apparatus including a pivot element for attachment to the structure, wherein the pivot element includes a first hole for rotatably attaching the gimbal to the pivot element using a first fastening element, wherein the pivot element includes a second hole, which is an oblong hole, for guiding a rotational movement of the gimbal within an angular range around an axis of rotation associated with the first hole, wherein a first surface of the pivot element, which faces the gimbal, when the gimbal is attached to the pivot element, is convex.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for attaching a gimbal for an antenna to a structure, the apparatus comprising a pivot element for attachment to the structure, wherein the pivot element comprises a first hole for rotatably attaching the gimbal to the pivot element using a first fastening element, wherein the pivot element comprises a second hole for guiding a rotational movement of the gimbal within an angular range around an axis of rotation associated with the first hole, wherein a first surface of the pivot element, which faces the gimbal when the gimbal is attached to the pivot element, includes a radius section that is convex, a second surface of the pivot element opposite the first surface is configured to receive the structure, the second surface defining a concave region, and the first hole, the radius section, and the concave region are aligned in a first direction.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the pivot element comprises a first surface section and a second surface section.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first surface section and the second surface section include a first angle, which is less than 180 degrees.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the radius section is between the first surface section and the second surface section.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a center of the radius section is associated with the axis of rotation, and the center of the radius section is at least approximately the axis of rotation.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the pivot element is differentiable in shape such that the first surface of the pivot element is configured to enable at least one of a smooth distribution of forces or a smooth distribution of mechanical stress applied to the pivot element when the gimbal is attached to the pivot element.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first surface of the pivot element is differentiable in shape at least in a region around the first surface section and the second surface section.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second hole is arranged partly around the first hole, and a center of a radius of the second hole is at least approximately the axis of rotation.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot element comprises a cylindrical shape, and the first surface of the pivot element forms a part of a cylindrical surface of the cylindrical shape.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot element comprises at least one opening between the first hole and the second hole.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot element comprises a third hole for attaching a component of an adjustment mechanism that is configured to adjust a relative rotation between the pivot element and the gimbal.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising at least one of: a) the first fastening element, or b) a second fastening element for connecting the gimbal to the pivot element through the second hole.

13 . A mounting system for attaching an antenna to a structure, the mounting system comprising the apparatus according to claim 1 and the gimbal is rotatably attachable and/or rotatably attached to the pivot element of the apparatus.

14 . The mounting system according to claim 13 , wherein the gimbal comprises at least a first mounting element comprising a first hole and a second hole for attachment to the pivot element, the first surface of the pivot element includes a first surface section and a second surface section, and a width of the first mounting element is equal to or smaller than a sum of a length of the first surface section of the pivot element and a length of the second surface section of the pivot element.

15 . An antenna comprising at least one of: a) the apparatus according to claim 1 , or b) a mounting system including the gimbal that is rotatably attachable and/or rotatably attached to the pivot element of the apparatus according to claim 1 .

16 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first angle ranges between 150 degrees and 178 degrees.

Assignees

• Nokia Shanghai Bell Co Ltd

Inventors

• Isambard Loic

Classifications

• H01Q1/1228

  on a boom · CPC title

• H01Q3/06

  over a restricted angle · CPC title

• F16C2380/00

  Electrical apparatus · CPC title

• F16C11/103

  frictionally clamped · CPC title

• F16C11/04

  Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D) · CPC title