Independent adjustable azimuth multi-band antenna fixture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9660323-B2
Application number	US-201514671828-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2015
Priority date	Mar 27, 2015
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

A combination antenna fixture is configured to accommodate adjustment of independent azimuths for each frequency band of operation of antennas of a mobile telephone network. The antennas may be mounted within a single radome or housing used to protect the antennas from environmental conditions. Each of the antennas may be coupled to a different movable mounting device within a radome, which may enable directing the azimuth for each antenna independently. By directing the azimuth independently for each antenna, the signal coverage area for each antenna may be customized to optimize coverage over a geographic area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An antenna fixture comprising:
a radome;
a first antenna located within the radome;
a first mounting device rotatably coupled to the radome and located within the radome, the first mounting device coupled to the first antenna and configured to rotate the first antenna about a first axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first antenna to modify a first azimuth associated with the first antenna;
a first securing mechanism to at least temporarily lock the first mounting device in place to maintain the first azimuth associated with the first mounting device after rotation of the first mounting device;
a second, different antenna located within the radome; and
a second mounting device rotatably coupled to the radome and located within the radome, the second mounting device coupled to the second antenna and configured to rotate the second antenna about a second axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second antenna to modify a second azimuth associated with the second antenna;
a second securing mechanism to at least temporarily lock the second mounting device in place to maintain the second azimuth associated with the second mounting device after rotation of the second mounting device,
wherein the first mounting device rotates independent from the second mounting device.

2. The antenna fixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first mounting device includes a support coupled to a hinge located at a first side of the support, the support including a guiding feature located at a second side of the support, the guiding feature configured to translate between a first position and a second position within a fixed guide that constrains movement of the guiding feature and constrains rotation of the hinge.

3. The antenna fixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first mounting device includes a support configured as a disc that rotates a mount coupled to the disc, wherein the first antenna is coupled to the mount.

4. The antenna fixture as recited in claim 3 , further comprising motor to drive a drive wheel that engages the disc, the motor to cause controlled rotation of the disc having the support and the first antenna.

5. The antenna fixture as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller to receive a control signal indicating a rotation of the first antenna; and
a motor to cause rotation of the first mounting device, the motor to receive power from the controller in response to the control signal indicating the rotation of the first antenna.

6. The antenna fixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first antenna is a low-band frequency cell site antenna and the second antenna is a mid-band frequency cell site antenna.

7. An apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a first mounting device rotatably coupled to a housing, the first mounting device coupled to a first antenna and configured to rotate the first antenna to modify a first azimuth associated with the first antenna; and
a second mounting device rotatably coupled to the frame, the second mounting device coupled to a second antenna and configured to rotate the second antenna to modify a second azimuth associated with the second antenna;
at least one securing mechanism to at least temporarily lock at least one of the first mounting device or the second mounting device to prevent rotation of the at least one the first mounting device or the second mounting device,
wherein the first mounting device rotates independent from the second mounting device.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , further comprising a motor to cause rotation of at least the first mounting device about an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first antenna.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , further comprising a controller to receive a control signal indicating a rotation of the first antenna, and wherein the controller causes actuation of the motor.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein the motor drives a gear that engages teeth of the first mounting device to cause rotation of the first mounting device, and wherein the motor is a stepper motor.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , further comprising a knob to cause rotation of at least the first mounting device about an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first antenna.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 , further comprising indicia on the knob to indicate an amount of rotation of the first antenna.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first mounting device includes a support coupled to a hinge located at a first side of the support, the support including a guiding feature located at a second side of the support, the guiding feature configured to move between a first position and a second position within a fixed guide that constrains movement of the guiding feature and constrains rotation of the hinge.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 , wherein the guiding feature further includes a motor to cause controlled movement of the second side of the support with respect to the guide.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein an axis of rotation of the first antenna is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first antenna.

16. A system comprising:
a housing;
a mounting fixture including:
a first mounting device rotatably coupled to a housing, the first mounting device coupled to a first antenna and configured to rotate the first antenna to modify a first azimuth associated with the first antenna;
a second mounting device rotatably coupled to the frame, the second mounting device coupled to a second antenna and configured to rotate the second antenna to modify a second azimuth associated with the second antenna;
at least one securing mechanism to at least temporarily lock at least one of the first mounting device or the second mounting device to prevent rotation of the at least one the first mounting device or the second mounting device; and
one or more actuators to cause independently controlled rotation of the first mounting device and the second mounting device; and

a controller to activate at least one of the one or more actuators to cause the independently controlled rotation of the first antenna, the second antenna, or both.

17. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the controller receives a signal from a switch center, the signal indicating a change in an azimuth of at least the first mounting device or the second mounting device.

18. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein an axis of rotation of the first antenna is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first antenna.

19. The system as recited in claim 16 , further comprising the first antenna and the second antenna.

20. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the first mounting device includes a support coupled to a hinge located at a first side of the support, the support including a guiding feature located at a second side of the support, the guiding feature configured to move between a first position and a second position within a fixed guide that constrains movement of the guiding feature and constrains rotation of the hinge.

Assignees

• T Mobile Usa Inc

Inventors

• Au Chad

Classifications

• H01Q1/42

  Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome · CPC title

• H01Q1/246

  specially adapted for base stations · CPC title

• H01Q21/26

  Turnstile or like antennas comprising arrangements of three or more elongated elements disposed radially and symmetrically in a horizontal plane about a common centre · CPC title

• H01Q3/06

  over a restricted angle · CPC title

• H01Q21/28

  Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)} · CPC title