Patent Grant
8299372
The present disclosure relates generally to mounting and connecting antennas to transmission lines for interconnecting an antenna to a device for the purpose of transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency signals.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Antennas are commonly connected to coaxial cables, which in turn, are connected to radio devices. In this exemplary manner, an antenna may thus be interconnected to a radio device for the purpose of transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency signals.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
Antenna mounts are disclosed, which may be used for mounting and connecting an antenna to a transmission line. In exemplary embodiments, an antenna mount assembly generally includes an output contact and an antenna mount body. The antenna mount body includes an output portion, a shielding compartment for housing and electromagnetically shielding a connection between a coaxial cable and the output contact, and an access port to permit access to the shielding compartment around the connection between the coaxial cable and the output contact. An antenna mount nut is mechanically attachable to the output portion of the antenna mount body. The antenna mount nut is configured for mechanically attaching an antenna to the antenna mount body. The output contact is coupled to the antenna mount body. The output contact extends from the output portion and into the shielding compartment for electrically connecting the coaxial cable to the output portion.
In other exemplary embodiments, an antenna mount body for an antenna mount assembly includes a shielding compartment for housing a connection between an output contact and a coaxial cable. The shielding compartment has a length with a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end. The open end of the shielding compartment provides an opening to slidingly receive the coaxial cable and a coaxial cable connector into the shielding compartment. The antenna mount body also includes an output portion above the shielding compartment for connection to an antenna; a retaining hole transverse and intersecting the shielding compartment for receiving a locking pin to retain the coaxial cable and a coaxial cable connector in the compartment; and a shaft between the output portion and the shielding compartment for retaining a contact pin between the output portion and the compartment portion. The shaft transversely intersects the shielding compartment at a connection location. There is an access port to permit access to the shielding compartment at the connection location and configured to be closed by the coaxial cable connector when the coaxial cable and the coaxial cable connector are positioned in the shielding compartment for retention by the locking pin.
Connector assemblies for connecting a coaxial cable to an antenna mount assembly are disclosed. In exemplary embodiments, a connector assembly includes a compatibility adapter for attachment to the coaxial cable. The compatibility adapter has a length from a first end to a second end of the compatibility adapter. The compatibility adapter is configured to permit a dielectric core and a center conductor of the coaxial cable to pass from the first end to the second end through the compatibility adapter. The connector assembly also includes a tubular gate for mechanical attachment to the compatibility adapter and the antenna mount assembly. The tubular gate has an internal passage configured to substantially surround at least part of the compatibility adapter adjacent the second end of the compatibility adapter. The tubular gate is configured for sliding insertion into a compartment in the antenna mount assembly. The connector assembly also includes a crimp ferrule for substantially surrounding at least part of the compatibility adapter adjacent the first end and coupling a metal shield of the coaxial cable to the compatibility adapter.
Additional aspects provide methods relating to mounting and connecting antennas to transmission lines. In an exemplary embodiment, there is disclosed a method of installing an antenna mount including an antenna mount body with an output portion, a shielding compartment having an open end, an output contact extending between the output portion and the shielding compartment, and an access port for accessing the shielding compartment. In this example, the method includes mounting the antenna mount body to a mounting surface with the output portion extending through an opening in the mounting surface; coupling a connector assembly to a coaxial cable; inserting the coaxial cable and the connector assembly into the shielding compartment via the open end; connecting a center conductor of the coaxial cable to the output contact through the access port; and closing the access port to shield the connection between the center conductor and the output contact.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As noted above, it is common to connect an antenna to a coaxial cable, which in turn, is connected to radio device, to allow radio frequency signals to be transmitted and/or received between the antenna and radio device. The inventors hereof have recognized that at least some existing antenna mount designs lack features to adequately address the demands associated with high frequency operation, such as the failure to provide adequate electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding. Due to the lack of adequate shielding, EMI/RFI interference may cause degradation or complete loss of important signals, thereby rendering the electronic equipment inefficient or inoperable. As used herein, the term “EMI” should be considered to generally include and refer to EMI emissions and RFI emissions, and the term “electromagnetic” should be considered to generally include and refer to electromagnetic and radio frequency from external sources and internal sources. Accordingly, the term shielding (as used herein) generally includes and refers to EMI shielding and RFI shielding, for example, to prevent (or at least reduce) ingress and egress of EMI and RFI relative to an enclosure in which electronic equipment is disposed.
The inventors have also recognized that at least some existing antenna mount designs lack features to adequately address manufacturability and mechanical compatibility with the broadening variance of mounting and coaxial cable configurations. For example, some existing antenna mount designs include components that must be machined and/or that can only be used with a single size/type of coaxial cable.
The inventors have disclosed herein exemplary embodiments of connectors, devices, or assemblies that may be used for mounting antennas to a support surface and for connecting the antennas to transmission lines (e.g., coaxial cables, etc.), and which may also conceal and shield the electrical connection joint as described herein.
In an exemplary embodiment, an antenna mount (e.g., 100, etc.) generally includes an output contact (e.g., 114, etc.), an antenna mount body (e.g., 112, etc.), and a coaxial feed portion (e.g., 104, etc.). The antenna mount body includes an output portion (e.g., 134, etc.), a shielding compartment (e.g., 136, etc.) for housing and electromagnetically shielding a connection between a coaxial cable and the output contact, and an access port (e.g., 142, etc.) to permit access to the shielding compartment around the connection between the coaxial cable and the output contact. The coaxial feed portion is configured to receive the coaxial cable coupled to a coaxial cable connector (e.g., 116, 118, 120, etc.). The antenna mount includes an antenna mount nut (e.g., 108, etc.) mechanically attachable to the output portion of the antenna mount body. The antenna mount nut is configured for mechanically attaching an antenna to the antenna mount body. The antenna mount includes the output contact (e.g., 114, etc.) coupled to the antenna mount body. The output contact extends from the output portion and into the shielding compartment for electrically connecting the coaxial cable to the output portion.
Exemplary embodiments of an antenna mount disclosed herein may be used with and are compatible with more than one size of transmission line (e.g., different coaxial cable sizes, etc.). Also, the metal chamber in disclosed exemplary embodiments, which provides the EMI/RF shielding, may be machined or cast, though casting may allow for easier manufacturability, lower costs, and/or more mechanically rugged designs.
The antenna mount may be configured differently (e.g., different sizes, shapes, materials, etc.) depending on the intended application. In one example embodiment, the antenna mount includes a RF shielding compartment defined or provided by a brass tubular chamber or cylindrical gate having a length of about ¾ inches and which provides RF or EMI shielding, for example, at high RF frequencies.
With reference now to the drawings,
As may be best seen in
The shielding compartment 136 includes a closed end 138 and an open end 140. The open end 140 is an input portion for receiving the coaxial cable 122, compatibility adapter 116, and tubular gate 118 into the shielding compartment 136. When the coaxial cable 122, compatibility adapter 116, and tubular gate 118 are within the shielding compartment 136, the open end 140 of the shielding compartment 136 is substantially closed by the coaxial cable 122, compatibility adapter 116, and tubular gate 118 (as best seen in
The antenna mount body 112 includes a shaft 144 from the output portion 134 to the shielding compartment 136. The insulator 115 and the output contact 114 pass through this shaft 144 from the output portion 134 to the shielding compartment 136, where the output contact 114 may be connected to the center conductor 124 of the coaxial cable 122. The insulator 115 surrounds a portion of the output contact 114 to insulate the output contact 114 from the antenna mount body 112. The insulator 115 also operates as a support to hold the output contact 114 in its proper position relative to the antenna mount body 112. The insulator may be made of any suitable insulating material, including plastics, PTFE, etc. and the output contact 114 may be made of any suitable electrically conductive material, including, e.g., brass, copper, etc.
A retaining hole 146 extends through the antenna mount body 112 transverse and intersecting the length of the shielding compartment 136. In some embodiments, the retaining hole 146 passes completely through the antenna mount body 112, while in other embodiments the retaining hole 146 passes through only one side of the antenna mount body 112 and into the shielding compartment 136. The retaining hole 146 is configured to receive the retaining pin 132. As will be explained in more detail below, the retaining pin 132 is inserted into the retaining hole 146 to lock, retain, restrain, etc. the coaxial cable 122, compatibility adapter 116, and/or tubular gate 118 in an assembled position within the shielding compartment 136. The retaining pin 132 may be stainless steel or any other suitable material.
The antenna mount body 112 may include external threads 148 around the output portion 134 for mating with corresponding internal threads 150 on the antenna mount nut 108. The antenna mount nut 108 includes external threads 152 for mechanical connection to corresponding threads on an antenna, antenna assembly, etc. The threads 148, 150, 152 may be replaced with any other suitable connector. The antenna mount nut 108 may be made of any suitable material including, for example, a metal such as brass, zinc, other metals, alloys, other electrically-conductive materials, etc.
The tubular gate 118 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped, etc.) for sliding insertion into the shielding compartment 136 through the open end 140 of the shielding compartment 136. In the illustrated embodiment, the shielding compartment 136 and the tubular gate 118 both have a cylindrical shape. The outer diameter of the tubular gate 118 is about the same size as the diameter of the shielding compartment 136, allowing the tubular gate 118 to be slidingly inserted into the shielding compartment 136. The tubular gate 118 is also configured to overlap (e.g., surround, enclose, etc) a portion of the compatibility adapter 116. The tubular gate 118 is a hollow cylinder and, accordingly, has an inner diameter. The inner diameter of the tubular gate 118 is substantially the same size as an outer diameter of the compatibility adapter 116.
The illustrated compatibility adapter 116 has a hollow cylindrical shape having a first end 154 and a second end 156. An interior passage 158 traverses from the first end 154 to the second end 156. The interior passage 158 has a diameter of approximately the diameter of the dielectric core 126 to permit the dielectric core 126 (and the center conductor 124 within the dielectric core 126) to pass from the first end 154 to the second end 156 through the interior passage 158. The exterior of the compatibility adapter 116 generally includes two distinct sections, a threaded portion 160 adjacent the first end 154 and a coupling portion 162 adjacent the second end 156. The coupling portion 162 has an external diameter of approximately the same size as the inner diameter of the tubular gate 118. Thus, the compatibility adapter 116 may be inserted into, and through, the tubular gate 118. The threaded portion 160 includes threads for engaging the metal shield 128 of the coaxial cable 122. In some embodiments, the first end 154 of the compatibility adapter 116 is configured to flare the metal shield 128 away from the dielectric core 126 and direct it over the threaded portion 160 when the coaxial cable 122 is inserted into the compatibility adapter 116.
Different size coaxial cables may be accommodated in the antenna mount 100 by simply changing the diameter of the interior passage 158 of the compatibility adapter 116. No other changes to the antenna mount 100 may be needed, allowing the same antenna mount body 112, antenna mount nut 108, tubular gate 118, etc. to be used with numerous different sized coaxial cables. For example, if a smaller diameter coaxial cable than the illustrated coaxial cable 122 were to be used in the antenna mount 100, a compatibility adapter 116 with an interior passage 158 with a diameter about the same size as the dielectric core 126 of the smaller coaxial cable may be used. The external diameter of the coupling portion 162 of such a compatibility adapter 116 with a smaller diameter interior passage 158 is the same as the illustrated compatibility adapter 116. Accordingly, the smaller compatibility adapter 116 will still properly couple with the tubular gate 118 and, therefore, will still properly couple the smaller coaxial cable to the antenna mount body 112 and the antenna mount 100.
The crimp ferrule 120 is configured to overlap (e.g., surround, enclose, etc.) the threaded portion 160 of the compatibility adapter 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the crimp ferrule 120 has a hollow cylindrical shape with an internal diameter about the same as (but slightly larger than) the diameter of the threaded portion 160 of the compatibility adapter 116. When the antenna mount 100 is assembled, the crimp ferrule 120 is crimped around the metal shield 128 and the threaded portion 160 of the compatibility adapter 116. This couples the metal shield 128 to the threads of the compatibility adapter 116 to electrically couple the metal shield 128 to the compatibility adapter 116 (and through it to the tubular gate 118, the antenna mount body 112, etc.) and to mechanically couple the coaxial cable 122 to the compatibility adapter 116.
The tubular gate 118 and the compatibility adapter 116 each include an aperture 164, 166 (also sometimes referred to as slots, retaining slots, stops, locks, etc.) The apertures 164, 166 pass through a portion of the tubular gate 118 and the compatibility adapter 116 transverse to their respective lengths. The apertures 164, 166 are configured (e.g., positioned, sized, etc.) to align with each other when the tubular gate 118 and the compatibility adapter 116 are in their proper final positions relative to one another during assembly of the antenna mount 100. The apertures 164, 166 are further configured to align with the retaining hole 146 when the tubular gate 118 and the compatibility adapter 116 are in their final positions during assembly of the antenna mount 100. Thus, when assembled, the retaining hole 146 and the apertures 164, 166 are aligned so that the retaining pin 132 may be inserted through the retaining hole 146 and the apertures 164, 166 to retain the compatibility adapter 116, the tubular gate 118, and the coaxial cable in their assembled positions relative to the antenna mount body 112.
The second end 156 of the compatibility adapter 116 includes a first tab 168A and a second tab 168B opposite the first tab 168A (collectively, tabs 168). The tabs 168 extend from an edge 170 of the compatibility adapter 116. The tabs 168 assist in aligning the compatibility adapter 116 with the insulator 115 (and accordingly help align the center conductor 124 with the output contact 114) when the antenna mount 100 is assembled, without blocking access to the center conductor 124 and the output contact 114.
The tubular gate 118 includes a cutout 172. The cutout 172 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped, positioned, etc.) to encompass at least part of the insulator 115 when the antenna mount 100 is assembled. Without the cutout 172, the tubular gate 118 in this embodiment would contact the insulator 115 and be prevented from full insertion into the shielding compartment 136.
The compatibility adapter 116, the tubular gate 118, and the crimp ferrule 120 may be made of the same or different materials. The compatibility adapter 116, the tubular gate 118, and the crimp ferrule 120 may also be made of the same or different materials from the antenna mount body 112 or other components of the antenna mount 100. In some embodiments, the compatibility adapter 116, the tubular gate 118, and the crimp ferrule 120 are made of brass. Other suitable materials may also be used, such as zinc, other metals, alloys, other electrically-conductive materials, etc.
An exemplary process of assembling the antenna mount 100 will now be discussed with particular reference to
To assemble the antenna mount 100, a portion of the jacket 130 of the coaxial cable 122 is removed and a portion of the dielectric core 126 is removed to expose part of the center conductor 124 extending beyond the dielectric core 126 (both as illustrated in
As shown in
After the center conductor 124 and the output contact 114 are coupled, the access port 142 may be closed, to fully surround (and thereby provide an EMI/RF shield for) the joint between the center conductor 124 and the output contact 114. To close the access port 142, the tubular gate 118 is slid further into the shielding compartment 136. The cutout 172 allows the tubular gate 118 to be slid beyond the insulator 115 as shown in
The connection between the center conductor 124 and the output contact 114 may be accessed after assembly by reversing the assembly process. Specifically, the retaining pin 132 is removed from the retaining hole 146 (e.g., by pushing it through the antenna mount body 112 and out of the opposite side of the antenna mount body 112), the crimp ferrule 120 is removed, and the tubular gate 118 is partially removed from the shielding compartment 136 to expose the connection between the center conductor 124 and the output contact 114 through the access port 142. This accessibility after assembly may be useful to allow an installer to check, repair, replace, etc. the connection between the center conductor 124 and the output contact 114.
An exmplary process for installing the antenna mount 100 to a mounting surface will be described with reference to
When the antenna mount nut 108 is attached to the antenna mount body 112, the antenna mount body 112 and the antenna mount nut 108 cooperatively define a clamping area or gap 174 (best seen in
The mounting surface 176 may be any generally planar or contour surface. In some embodiments, the mounting surface 176 is a roof of a vehicle. The output portion 134 of the antenna mount 100 is positioned adjacent an exterior side of the roof and the shielding compartment 136 is positioned adjacent an interior side of the roof.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Also as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to”, “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms, “next,” etc., when used herein, do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The disclosure herein of particular values and particular ranges of values for given parameters are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values that may be useful in one or more of the examples disclosed herein. Moreover, it is envisioned that any two particular values for a specific parameter stated herein may define the endpoints of a range of values that may be suitable for the given parameter. The disclosure of a first value and a second value for a given parameter can be interpreted as disclosing that any value between the first and second values could also be employed for the given parameter. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges.
Specific dimensions included in the drawings and/or disclosed herein are exemplary in nature and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.
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