Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6664928
-
Patent Number
6,664,928
-
Date Filed
Friday, March 22, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 16, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 343 700 MS
- 343 702
- 343 872
- 343 890
- 343 891
- 343 892
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An antenna for linearly polarized wave is accommodated in a case in which a heat sink is provided. By rotating the case depending on the vertically polarized wave or the horizontally polarized wave, wireless communication or broadcasting using the vertically polarized wave or the horizontally polarized wave can be selectively realized with high precision.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2001-258400, filed Aug. 28, 2001; and No. 2002-068140, filed Mar. 13, 2002, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna apparatus which is installed, e.g., outdoors and is used for performing wireless transmission of voice or data to a base station connected to a basic network.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent wireless system, data transmission service referred to as, e.g., WLL (Wireless Local Loop) or FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) is proposed. In such services, an antenna apparatus is installed outdoors, and wireless communication or broadcasting via the antenna apparatus to a base station connected to a basic network is performed.
In such services, a horizontally (H) polarization or a vertically (V) polarization is used depending on types of data to be transmitted, purposes of its use, or environment. An antenna, which is selected depending on whether radio wave used for the communication or broadcasting, is a horizontally polarized wave or a vertically polarized wave, is provided as the antenna apparatus used for the service.
However, in the above-described antenna apparatus, two different types of polarizations must be performed in order to a desired communication network or a broadcasting network. Then, the antenna apparatus which handles the polarized waves used for the desired communication or broadcasting network is selected and installed at a desired location to construct the communication or broadcasting network. Consequently, there arise the problems that the ordering of the antenna apparatus, manufacturing thereof and inventory management thereof are complicated and troublesome.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna apparatus which has simple configuration and enables wireless communication or broadcasting using two types of linearly polarized waves in order to simplify handling properties including its order, manufacturing process thereof and inventory management thereof.
The antenna apparatus of the present invention comprises an antenna main body for linearly polarized which is accommodated in a case in a direction of vertically polarized wave or in a direction of horizontally polarized wave, both of directions being perpendicular to each other; and a heat sink which is disposed at a rear surface of the case and thermally coupled to the antenna main body to thermally control the antenna main body.
In accordance with this configuration, the antenna main body is accommodated in a case in a direction of vertically polarized wave or in a direction of horizontally polarized wave. As a result, the present invention can be configured as to as correspond to both of wireless communication or broadcasting using the vertically and wireless communication or broadcasting using the horizontally polarized wave.
It is possible to simply and easily set such that the wireless communication or broadcasting using the vertically polarized wave or the horizontally polarized wave can be performed merely by an operation for changing the direction in which the antenna main body is accommodated in the case. Therefore, simplification of handling properties including order for the antenna apparatus, a manufacturing process thereof and inventory management thereof can be realized and diversification of communication or broadcasting can be accomplished.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1
is an exploded perspective view of an antenna apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention in which a main portion thereof is exploded and shown.
FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view seen from the front, showing an exploded state shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a perspective view showing a state in which radiating fins of a heat sink shown in
FIG. 1
are arranged in a direction of vertically polarized wave.
FIG. 4
is a perspective view showing a state in which the radiating fins of the heat sink shown in
FIG. 1
are arranged in a direction of horizontally polarized wave.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view seen from the back, showing a state in which a case shown in
FIG. 1
is mounted to a support.
FIG. 6
is a perspective view seen from the front, showing the state in which the case shown in
FIG. 1
is mounted to the support.
FIG. 7
is a perspective view showing configuration of a heat sink of an antenna apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8
is a plan view, as seen from the back, of the configuration shown in FIG.
7
.
FIG. 9
is a plan view of configuration of a heat sink of an antenna apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10
is a perspective view showing configuration of arrangement of an external connector of an antenna apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.
FIGS. 1 and 2
show respectively an antenna apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1
shows a state, as seen from the back, in which a case
10
which configures an antenna main body, an antenna
11
for linearly polarized wave and a radome
12
made of resin material are exploded.
FIG. 2
shows such state seen from the front.
The case
10
is made of metallic material such as aluminum or the like and has a substantially concave accommodating portion
101
provided at its one surface. A high-frequency circuit portion
13
is accommodated in the accommodating portion
101
of the case
10
. The antenna
11
is placed on the high-frequency circuit portion
13
. The radome
12
is attached to a front surface of the high-frequency circuit portion
13
so as to cover the antenna
11
. Thus, the high-frequency circuit portion
13
and the antenna
11
are hermetically accommodated within the case
10
and the radome
12
.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the antenna
11
which is hermetically accommodated within the case
10
and the radome
12
is set so as to be possible to perform communication or broadcasting using vertically (V) polarization in a state in which a plane of polarization governed by the antenna is vertical to the ground. When the case
10
is rotated about 90° from the position of the vertically polarized wave, the plane of polarization governed by the antenna
11
is, as shown in
FIG. 4
, switched such that wireless communication or broadcasting using a horizontally (H) polarization can be performed.
A radiating heat sink
14
is disposed at the rear surface of the case
10
. The heat sink
14
is disposed so as to form a predetermined tilt angle such that radiating fins
141
are disposed so as to form an acute angle of about 45° with respect to, e.g., a direction of gravity in any one of the state of the vertically polarized wave and the state of the horizontally polarized wave. The heat sink
14
is thermally coupled via the case
10
to the high-frequency circuit portion
13
within the accommodating portion
101
of the case
10
. Thus, even if the case
10
is rotated 90° such that the antenna
11
is set to either of the direction of the vertically polarized wave and the direction of the horizontal polarized wave, the heat sink
14
takes two substantially symmetrical positions where radiating fins
141
are tilted about 45° with respect to the direction of gravity, while being thermally coupled to the high-frequency circuit portion
13
.
When heat is transmitted from the high-frequency circuit portion
13
to the heat sink
14
in the above-described two positions, the heat sink
14
irradiates heat by a chimney effect. Namely, in the chimney effect, air is thermally expanded between the radiating fins
141
such that a specific weight of the air becomes light and updraft occurs. A thermal conductivity of the radiating fins
141
is increased by an effect of flow rate of the updraft. The heat generated at the high-frequency circuit portion
13
is subjected to a so-called natural air cooling by the radiation such that the high-frequency circuit portion
13
is thermally controlled so as to have a predetermined temperature.
An external connector
15
which has, for example, water proofing property and is electrically connected to the high-frequency circuit portion
13
is provided at the rear surface of the case
10
so as to protrude in a direction in which the radiating fins
141
of the heat sink
14
are arranged. An exterior data modulator/demodulator (not shown) which is disposed, for example, indoors is electrically connected via a cable
16
to the external connector
15
. The external connector
15
enables electric connection of the external data modulator/demodulator (not shown) with the high-frequency circuit portion
13
within the case
10
.
A plurality of mounting protrusions
102
is provided at the rear surface of the case
10
at predetermined intervals therebetween. As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, a mounting portion
171
of a mounting band
17
is detachably mounted to these mounting protrusions
102
by using unillustrated screw members or the like. The mounting band
17
is mounted to the mounting protrusions
102
of the case
10
by using the above-mentioned screw members (not shown) in any one of the two positions where the mounting portion
171
is rotated 90° depending on whether the polarized wave governed by the antenna
11
is a vertically polarized wave or a horizontally polarized wave.
The mounting band
17
is mounted by a band portion
172
being wound around a support
18
for installation in a state in which the mounting portion
171
is mounted to the mounting protrusions
102
of the case
10
. Thus, the antenna
11
is installed at a desired position where communication or broadcasting is possible with the place of polarization being faced in a direction of vertically polarized wave or a direction of horizontally polarized wave. When the antenna
11
is mounted to the support
18
, the position of the mounting band
17
is adjusted such that orientation of the antenna
11
coincides a desired direction of communication or broadcasting.
In the above-described configuration, when a radio wave used for communication or broadcasting is a vertically polarized wave, the mounting portion
171
of the mounting band
17
is mounted to the mounting protrusions
102
of the case
10
and the band portion
172
is mounted to the support
18
by taking a plane of polarization governed by the antenna
11
into consideration. At this time, the orientation of the antenna
11
within the case
10
is adjusted for a desired direction of communication or broadcasting. Here, the external connector
15
is protruded downward so as to form a tilt angle of about 45° with respect to the case
10
. The external data modulator/demodulator (not shown) is electrically connected via the cable
16
to the external connector
15
.
The antenna
11
receives the vertically polarized and outputs it to the high-frequency circuit portion
13
. The high-frequency circuit portion
13
processes inputted high-frequency signal and directs the resulting signal via the external connector
15
and the cable
16
to the external data modulator/demodulator (not shown). Then, the high-frequency signal sent from the external data modulator/demodulator (not shown) is supplied via the cable
16
and the external connector
15
to the high-frequency circuit portion
13
. At the high-frequency circuit portion
13
the signal is processed, and then is outputted to the antenna
11
which governs the vertically polarized wave. The resulting signal is sent by the antenna
11
in a desired orientation such that communication or broadcasting is performed.
In the position where communication or broadcasting using the vertically polarized wave is performed, the heat sink
14
within the case
10
is set such that radiating fins
141
are arranged so as to form a tilt angle of about 45° with respect to the direction of gravity and a desired chimney effect is obtained. Thus, the heat sink
14
performs thermal control by effectively and naturally cooling heat quantity generated by drive of high-frequency circuit portion
13
.
When switching to a state in which communication or broadcasting using the horizontally polarized wave is possible is performed, the position for mounting the mounting portion
171
of the mounting band
17
to the mounting protrusions
102
of the case
10
is rotated about 90° and the band portion
172
is mounted to the support
18
such that the position of the mounting band
17
is adjusted so as to coincide the direction of communication or broadcasting. Consequently, the antenna
11
is set so as to be possible to perform transmission/receiving of the horizontally polarized wave.
The external connector
15
of the case
10
is protruded downward at the position (where a tilt angle of about 45° is formed) which is rotated about 90° from the position where the communication or broadcasting using the vertically polarized wave is performed. The external data modulator/demodulator is electrically connected via the cable
16
to the external connector
15
.
The antenna
11
receives a horizontally polarized wave and outputs it to the high-frequency circuit portion
13
. The high-frequency circuit portion
13
processes inputted high-frequency signal and directs the resulting signal via the external connector
15
and the cable
16
to the external data modulator/demodulator (not shown). The high-frequency signal sent from the external data modulator/demodulator (not shown) is supplied via the cable
16
and the external connector
15
to the high-frequency circuit portion
13
. Subsequent to the signal being processed at the high-frequency circuit portion
13
, the resulting signal is outputted to the antenna
11
which governs the horizontally polarized wave. Then, the signal is sent by the antenna
11
in a desired orientation such that communication or broadcasting is performed.
In the position where the communication or broadcasting using the horizontally polarized wave is performed, the heat sink
14
within the case
10
is set such that the radiating fins
141
are arranged so as to form a tilt angle of about 45° at the position which is rotated about 90° from the position in which the communication or broadcasting using the vertically polarized wave is performed and a desired chimney effect is obtained. Thus, the heat sink
14
exhibits the same chimney effect as in the state of performing the above-described communication or broadcasting using the vertically polarized wave, and performs thermal control by effectively and naturally cooling heat quantity generated by drive of the high-frequency circuit portion
13
.
As described above, the antenna apparatus accommodates the antenna
11
for linearly polarized wave together with the high-frequency circuit portion
13
within the case
10
in which the heat sink
14
is provided. By rotating the case
10
90° depending on whether the vertically polarized wave is used or the horizontally polarized wave is used, communication or broadcasting using the vertically polarized wave or the horizontally polarized wave is realized with high precision.
It is possible to simply and easily set such that the communication or broadcasting using the vertically polarized wave or the horizontally polarized wave can be performed merely by changing the direction in which the same case
10
is installed to the support
18
. Therefore, simplification of handling properties including order for the antenna apparatus, a manufacturing process thereof and inventory management thereof can be realized and diversification of communication or broadcasting can be accomplished.
The heat sink
14
is disposed at the case
10
such that the radiating fins
141
are tilted so as to form an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity in both a case of using the vertically polarized wave as a wave governed by the antenna
11
and a case of using the horizontally polarized wave as a wave governed by the antenna
11
.
The heat sink
14
can exhibit substantially same chimney effect in both of the position of the vertically polarized wave governed by the antenna
11
and the position of the horizontally polarized wave governed by the antenna
11
. Thus, thermal control of the high-frequency circuit portion
13
can be realized with high efficiency.
In the above-described embodiment, a case where the radiating fins
141
of the heat sink
14
are arranged at the rear surface of the case
10
so as to form a tilt angle of about 45° with respect to the direction of gravity in both cases of using the vertically polarized wave governed by the antenna
11
and of using the horizontally polarized wave governed by the antenna
11
has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this angle at which the fins are arranged, and fins may be arranged at other acute angle and the substantially same effect can be expected.
In the above embodiment, the case in which the antenna apparatus is configured by using the heat sink
14
in which the radiating fins
141
are arranged so as to form an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and configurations such as those shown in
FIGS. 7
,
8
and
9
may be utilized. In
FIGS. 7 through 9
, for convenience, the same portions as those of
FIGS. 1 through 6
are denoted by the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof are omitted.
A heat sink
19
shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8
is formed such that a plurality of radiating fins
191
which are bent about 90° are radially combined and arranged in two directions which are perpendicular to each other. The heat sink
19
is disposed at the rear surface of the case
10
. Radiation configuration which effectively utilizes a radiation efficiency of radiating fins
191
depending on the direction that the antenna
11
is arranged is configured. Thus, substantially same radiation efficiency as those of the above-described embodiments can be ensured in both of the case of the vertically polarized wave and the case of the horizontally polarized wave. As a result, substantially same effect as those of the above-described embodiments can be expected.
A heat sink
21
shown in
FIG. 9
is configured such that a plurality of curved radiating fins
211
are concentrically arranged. The heat sink
21
is disposed at the rear surface of the case
10
. In the heat sink
21
, radiation configuration which effectively utilizes a radiation efficiency of the radiating fins
211
depending on the direction that the antenna
11
is arranged is configured. Substantially same radiation efficiency as those of the above-described embodiments can be ensured in both of the case of the vertically polarized wave and the case of the horizontally polarized wave. As a result, substantially same effect as those of the above-described embodiments can be expected.
In the above-described embodiments, the configuration in which the radiating fins
211
of the heat sink
21
are concentrically arranged is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the radiating fins
211
may be arranged substantially circularly.
Further, in the above-described embodiments, the case in which the external connector
15
is provided so as to protrude to make an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity in both of the case of using the vertically polarized wave and the case of using the horizontally polarized wave has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this case. For example, the external connector
151
may be disposed as shown in FIG.
10
. In
FIG. 10
, for convenience, the same portions as those of
FIGS. 1 through 6
are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.
In an embodiment shown in
FIG. 10
, the external connector
151
is provided at the rear surface of the case
10
so as to protrude substantially parallel to a direction that the radiating fins
141
are protruded. In this embodiment, as the above-described embodiments, stable connection to the external modulator/demodulator (not shown) can be realized in both of the case that the vertically polarized wave is governed by the case
10
and the case that horizontally polarized wave is governed by the case
10
. Further, substantially same effect as those of the above-described embodiments can be expected.
The external connector
151
shown in
FIG. 10
which is provided so as to protrude substantially parallel to the direction that the radiating fins
141
are protruded may be applied to the heat sink configurations including the heat sink
19
shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8
and the heat sink
21
shown in FIG.
9
. The same effect as those of heat sink configurations shown in
FIGS. 7
,
8
and
9
can be expected.
In the above-described embodiments, the case in which the present invention is applied to the antenna configuration that the antenna
11
is hermetically accommodated in the case
10
and the radome
12
. However, the present invention is not limited to this antenna configuration, and other antenna configurations may be utilized. The same effect as those of the above-described embodiments can be expected.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
- 1. An antenna apparatus comprising:an antenna main body for transmitting or receiving a linearly polarized wave a case which houses said antenna body in accordance with a direction of polarization of a radio wave to be used; and a heat sink which is disposed at a surface of said case which serves as a radio emission/receiving surface of said antenna main body when said case is fixed, said heat sink including a row of radiating fins protruded in a direction where the radio wave is incident onto the surface of said case or emitted from the surface of said case, wherein the radiating fins of said heat sink e shaped such that upper ends of grooves between the radiation fins in a vertical direction are open, when the ease is fixed.
- 2. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heat sink is configured such that radiating fins are provided so as to form an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity in any one of the direction of vertically polarized wave governed by said antenna main body and the direction of horizontally polarized wave governed by said antenna main body.
- 3. The antenna apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said antenna main body is provided with an external connector which is protruded so as to form an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity in any one of the direction of said vertically polarized wave and the direction of said horizontally polarized wave.
- 4. The antenna apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said antenna main body is provided with the external connector which is protruded so as to be substantially parallel to The direction that said radiating fins of said heat sink are protruded.
- 5. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heat sink is configured such that said radiating fins are arranged in two direction which are substantially perpendicular to each other.
- 6. The antenna apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said antenna main body is provided with an external connector which is protruded so as to form an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity in any one of the direction of said vertically polarized wave and the direction of said horizontally polarized wave.
- 7. The antenna apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said antenna main body is provided with the external connector which is protruded so as to be substantially parallel to the direction that said radiating fins of said heat sink are protruded.
- 8. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heat sink is configured such that said radiating fins are arranged substantially circularly.
- 9. The antenna apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said antenna main body is provided with an external connector which is protruded so as to form an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity in any one of the direction of said vertically polarized wave and the direction of said horizontally polarized wave.
- 10. The antenna apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said antenna main body is provided with the external connector which is protruded so as to be substantially parallel to the direction that said radiating fins of said heat sink are protruded.
- 11. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said antenna main body is provided with an external connector which is protruded so as to form an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity in any one of the direction of said vertically polarized wave and the direction of said horizontally polarized wave.
- 12. The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said antenna main body is provided with the external connector which is protruded so as to be substantially parallel to a direction that said radiating fins of said heat sink are protruded.
- 13. An antenna apparatus comprising:an antenna main body for transmitting or receiving a linearly polarized wave; and a heat sink which is disposed at a surface of said antenna main body which serves as a radio emission/receiving surface of said antenna main body when the antenna apparatus is fixed, said heat sink including a row of radiating fins protruded in a direction where a radio wave is incident onto the surface of said antenna main body or emitted from the surface of said antenna main body, wherein the radiating fins of said heat sink are shaped such that upper ends of grooves between the radiation fins in a vertical direction are open, when the antenna apparatus is fixed.
- 14. The antenna apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said heat sink is configured such that radiating fins are provided so as to form an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity in any one of the direction of vertically polarized wave governed by said antenna main body and the direction of horizontally polarized wave governed by said antenna main body.
- 15. The antenna apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said antenna main body is provided with an external connector which is protruded so as to form an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity in any one of the direction of said vertically polarized wave and the direction of said horizontally polarized wave.
- 16. The antenna apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said antenna main body is provided with the external connector which is protruded so as to be substantially parallel to the direction that said radiating fins of said heat sink are protruded.
- 17. The antenna apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said heat sink is configured such that said radiating fins are arranged in two direction which are substantially perpendicular to each other.
- 18. The antenna apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said antenna main body is provided with an external connector which is protruded so as to form an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity in any one of the direction of said vertically polarized wave and the direction of said horizontally polarized wave.
- 19. The antenna apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said antenna main body is provided with the external connector which is protruded so as to be substantially parallel to the direction that said radiating fins of said heat sink are protruded.
- 20. The antenna apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said heat sink is configured such that said radiating fins are arranged substantially circularly.
- 21. The antenna apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said antenna main body is provided with an external connector which is protruded so as to form an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity in any one of the direction of said vertically polarized wave and the direction of said horizontally polarized wave.
- 22. The antenna apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said antenna main body is provided with the external connector which is protruded so as to be substantially parallel to the direction that said radiating fins of said heat sink are protruded.
- 23. The antenna apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said antenna main body is provided with an external connector which is protruded so as to form an acute angle with respect to the direction of gravity in any one of the direction of said vertically polarized wave and the direction of said horizontally polarized wave.
- 24. The antenna apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said antenna main body is provided with the external connector which is protruded so as to be substantially parallel to a direction that said radiating fins of said heat sink are protruded.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2001-258400 |
Aug 2001 |
JP |
|
2001-068140 |
Mar 2002 |
JP |
|
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Date |
Kind |
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Fukatsu et al. |
Oct 1981 |
A |
5828339 |
Patel |
Oct 1998 |
A |
6084772 |
Pell et al. |
Jul 2000 |
A |
6373447 |
Rostoker et al. |
Apr 2002 |
B1 |
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Number |
Date |
Country |
9-63762 |
Mar 1997 |
JP |