Window-mounted antenna unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019165448-A1
Application number	US-201715825236-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 29, 2017
Priority date	Nov 29, 2017
Publication date	May 30, 2019
Grant date	—

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:
first attachment means to secure the first unit to a first surface of a window;
an antenna;
an RF transceiver, coupled to the antenna, and configured to receive, via the antenna, incoming RF signals, and convert the RF signals to first electrical signals; and
first optical means configured to transmit the first electrical signals as first optical signals through the first surface of the 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 means comprises one of adhesive or suction cups.

4 . The RF antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the first optical means 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 means further includes an optical window that comprises a first segment of optical fiber through which the first optical means transmits the first optical signals.

6 . The RF antenna system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second unit comprising:
second attachment means configured to secure the second unit to a second surface of the window;
second optical means configured to:
receive the first optical signals through the second surface of the window, wherein the second optical means is aligned with the first optical means 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 means and the second attachment means comprise at least one magnet.

8 . The RF antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the second unit further comprises:
wireless power transmission circuitry configured to wirelessly transfer power through the window to the first unit, and wherein the first unit further comprises:
wireless power reception circuitry configured to receive 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 means comprises one of a photodiode, a photoreceiver, or a phototransistor.

11 . A radio frequency (RF) antenna system, comprising:
an indoor unit comprising:
first attachment means configured to secure the indoor unit to an inner surface of a window; and
a first optical transceiver configured to:
receive incoming first digital signals, and
transmit the first digital signals as first optical signals through the window to an outdoor unit; and

the outdoor unit comprising:
second attachment means configured to secure the outdoor unit to an outer surface of the window;
an antenna;
a second optical transceiver configured to receive the first optical signals transmitted through the window, and convert the first optical signals to outgoing electrical signals; and
an RF transceiver configured to transmit the outgoing electrical signals via the antenna.

12 . The RF antenna system of claim 11 , wherein the first attachment means and the second attachment means comprise magnets.

13 . The RF antenna system of claim 11 , wherein the RF transceiver of the outdoor unit is further configured to:
receive incoming RF signals via the antenna, and convert the RF signals to second digital signals, wherein the second optical transceiver of the outdoor unit is further configured to:
receive the second digital signals from the RF transceiver, convert the second digital signals to second optical signals, and transmit the second optical signals through the window to the indoor optical unit.

14 . The RF antenna system of claim 13 , wherein the first optical transceiver of the indoor unit is further configured to:
receive the second optical signals transmitted through the window, convert the second optical signals to third digital signals, and transmit the third digital signals to a device within, or coupled to, the indoor unit.

15 . The RF antenna system of claim 14 , wherein the device within the indoor unit comprises an internal router or switch.

16 . An antenna assembly, comprising:
a first assembly unit, including first attachment means configured to secure the first assembly unit to a first surface of a window; a second assembly unit, including second attachment means configured to secure the second assembly unit to a second surface of the window, wherein the first assembly unit comprises:
a first optical unit configured to:
receive first optical signals, convert the first optical signals to first digital signals, and transmit the first digital signals via a port of the first assembly unit,
receive second digital signals via the port, convert to second optical signals, and transmit the second optical signals through the window to the second assembly unit;

wherein the second assembly unit comprises:
an antenna;
a second optical unit configured to:
receive the second optical signals, convert to electrical signals, and transmit the electrical signals to the antenna for outgoing radio frequency (RF) transmission; and
receive incoming electrical signals from the antenna, convert the incoming electrical signals to second digital signals, convert the second digital signals to the first optical signals, and transmit the first optical signals through the window to the first assembly unit.

17 . The antenna assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first assembly unit further comprises:
first wireless power circuitry configured to wirelessly transfer power through the window to the second assembly unit;

18 . The antenna assembly of claim 17 , wherein the second assembly unit further comprises:
second wireless power circuitry configured to receive the power wirelessly transferred through the window from the first assembly unit.

19 . The antenna assembly of claim 16 , wherein the antenna comprises a phased array antenna or a waveguide planar antenna.

20 . The antenna assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first and second attachment means comprises one of a magnet, a suction cup, or adhesive.

Assignees

• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Polehn Donna L
• Weisbrod Fred

Classifications

• H01Q5/22

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

• 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

• 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

• H01Q1/1221

  onto a wall · CPC title

• H01Q1/1285 Primary

  with capacitive feeding through the windscreen · CPC title