Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6525620
-
Patent Number
6,525,620
-
Date Filed
Friday, May 21, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 25, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 333 24 C
- 333 246
- 333 260
- 343 715
- 343 702
- 343 850
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A capacitive signal coupling device to link an antenna radiating element to a peripheral device is disclosed. The capacitive signal coupling device includes a support and at least one conductive element on a first surface of the support. The conductive element is positioned to align with the radiating element of an antenna system and also includes a connector to enable a peripheral device to be connected to a transceiver antenna system without violating the integrity of the transceiver unit itself or without interrupting the operation of the transceiver system.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to signal coupling devices, including more particularly, to capacitive signal antenna coupling devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Known wireless communications systems include a radio transceiver unit mounted on a roof or otherwise exterior to the building for which the wireless communication system is being used. The transceiver functions by transmitting and receiving information between a local network and a remote station such as a regional telephone service provider. These transceivers necessarily include an antenna to complete the wireless functionality of the system. A larger and more powerful antenna structure generally enables the transceiver to transmit and receive more efficiently and over a larger distance.
To reduce manufacturing costs, transceiver enclosures are often built without a connection that enables access to.either the operative elements of the antenna or to the internal circuitry of the transceiver unit. Since maintaining the environmental integrity of the system is extremely important, opening the transceiver enclosure or other after market modifications to the transceiver system may compromise the integrity of the unit, disrupt the proper functioning of the system or void any existing warranties.
Due to varying levels of signal and electromagnetic interference, shifting weather patterns, increased demand, or any other change in system requirements, the antenna systems normally incorporated into known transceiver systems may not always effectively communicate with a remote service provider.
Connecting a large antenna directly to the transceiver circuitry will increase the performance of the system. However, as previously described, if the transceiver system was not manufactured with a connection to facilitate this attachment, someone must mechanically and electronically modify the transceiver to accomplish the attachment. This task may involve cutting into the transceiver enclosure in order to access the antenna elements or transceiver electronics. This may result in the communication system being inoperative for a period of time and also exposes the transceiver to potential damage. Similarly such a modification may not be capable of being completed in the field, requiring the transceiver to be brought back to a technicians shop to service.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The capacitive signal coupling device of the present invention comprises, a support, at least one conductive element disposed on a first surface of the support, a grounding element disposed on a second surface of the support and a connector.
In another aspect, the present invention includes an antenna radiating element coupler comprising a support having first and second surfaces, at least one conductive element disposed on the first surface, a grounding element disposed on the second surface, and a connector formed into the support.
In a further aspect, the present invention also includes a method of coupling an external device to an antenna radiating element comprising forming a support with first and second surfaces, attaching a conductive element to the first surface, applying a grounding element to the second surface, and providing a connection to the conductive element and the grounding element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a transceiver system with a radiating element as would preferably be used in conjunction with the present invention
FIG. 2
is the capacitive signal coupling device of the present invention engaged with the transceiver system of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of a coupling device embodying the present invention.
FIG. 4
is another perspective view of a coupling device embodying the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of the capacitive signal coupling device of the present invention shown in relation to a corresponding transceiver system.
FIG. 6A
is a cross sectional view of the capacitive signal coupling device of the present invention in relation to a corresponding transceiver unit.
FIG. 6B
is a partial cross-sectional view of the capacitive signal coupling device of the present invention while engaged with a corresponding transceiver unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
It should be noted that elements of similar structures or functions are labeled with the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and are not described in detail for some of the drawings. Referring to the drawings,
FIG. 1
shows a radio transceiver unit
5
as would preferably be used to communicate between a user and a service provider. The transceiver enclosure
10
houses the operative circuitry of the transceiver unit
5
and utilizes at least one radiating element
12
. The radiating element
12
is the active component of a patch antenna, and is preferably located on the exterior surface of the transceiver enclosure
10
. In an exemplary preferred embodiment, the transceiver enclosure
10
is a radiating enclosure. A preferred embodiment of such a radiating enclosure is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/316,459 filed on May 21, 1999, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
In known applications, the transceiver unit
5
of
FIG. 1
is mounted exteriorly, often on the roof or wall of a tall building, so that signals can be received without the potential interference caused by electromagnetic energy and to avoid the signal attenuation caused by an adjacent building structure. If there is unwanted interference with the broadcasting and receiving functions of the transceiver unit
5
, unwanted path attenuation or if the transceiver unit
5
is subsequently required to broadcast over a larger range then it was originally designed for, it becomes desirable to boost the signal strength and reception sensitivity of the transceiver unit
5
. One method of accomplishing this is to operatively connect the existing transceiver unit
5
to a larger peripheral antenna. Such a peripheral antenna can take the form of a remote tower antenna, a larger stand alone antenna mounted in relative proximity to the transceiver unit
5
or a telescoping antenna. In order to link this peripheral antenna to the antenna of the transceiver unit
10
, the peripheral antenna needs to be operatively coupled to the radiating elements
12
of the transceiver antenna.
Referring now to
FIG. 2
, the capacitive signal coupling device
50
of the present invention is shown as it would link the radiating elements
12
of the transceiver unit
5
to a peripheral antenna
20
. The antenna
20
desirably has a larger gain than the antenna normally incorporated into the transceiver unit
5
or it can be mounted in a better location than the actual transceiver unit, thereby accommodating additional network requirements. Likewise, the antenna
20
is positioned so as to avoid obstructions which may interfere with transmission and reception.
Without disturbing the environmental integrity of the transceiver unit
5
and without interrupting the service provided by the transceiver to the local network, the capacitive signal coupler
50
provides a capacitive connection between the radiating elements
12
on the transceiver enclosure
10
and the antenna
20
. The capacitive signal coupler
50
includes a connector
90
formed into the exterior surface of the coupler support. The connector
90
is formatted as a male connector and allows a female connector
100
, attached to the end of a cable
106
, to mate with the connector
90
and ultimately connect to the antenna
20
. In a preferred embodiment, the capacitive signal coupler
50
also includes fasteners
74
. The fasteners
74
engage with the transceiver enclosure
10
and maintain the transceiver enclosure
10
and the capacitive signal coupler
50
in operative alignment in the x, y and z axis. The capacitive signal coupler
50
can be quickly and easily installed on an existing transceiver enclosure without the need to expose the internal circuitry of the transceiver unit and without the need to interrupt communication services to and from the local network. The capacitive signal coupling device
50
of the present invention is preferably designed in such a way to enable one with little or no knowledge of antenna or transceiver maintenance and construction to install and remove the capacitive signal coupler
50
. Additionally, the manufacturing costs associated with the transceiver unit
5
are minimized, since a connector does not need to be unilaterally incorporated into the transceiver enclosure
10
. A capacitive signal coupler
50
can be later purchased only for those transceiver units requiring them.
Referring now to
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the inside surface
60
(
FIG. 3
) is the surface of the capacitive signal coupler
50
that eventually faces the transceiver enclosure
10
(
FIG. 2
) it engages with. The general shape of the capacitive signal coupler
50
can vary and will preferably conform to the shape of the top surface of the corresponding transceiver enclosure
10
for which it is designed. It is contemplated that the capacitive signal coupler
50
can be manufactured for use with several standard sized transceiver enclosures. Custom made couplers can also be manufactured. The capacitive signal coupler
50
includes a support structure
52
with a first surface
60
and a second surface
70
(FIG.
4
). The first surface
60
has attached or integrated into it at least one conductive element
80
. The support
52
is preferably formed from a non-conductive thermoplastic material which will not interfere with the operation of the antenna or transceiver systems. The material from which the support
52
is formed should be dielectric and have appropriate radio frequency characteristics for the application it is being used. The support material is also preferably one that is conducive to an injection molding process in order to facilitate an easy and inexpensive manufacturing process. The conductive elements
80
are preferably made from a thin sheet of copper, but can be made from most other electrically conductive materials. Ideally, the conductive elements
80
are formed from a similar material to that of the active radiating elements
12
on the transceiver enclosure
10
as shown in
FIGS. 1
,
2
. The conductive elements
80
are also of a similar shape to the active radiating elements
12
so that when in operative alignment, coupling losses and resonances can be minimized. The preferred transceiver system
5
, depicted in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, has the radiating elements
12
integrated into the transceive enclosure
10
. The enclosure body itself forms the dielectric component in the antenna unit. The capacitive signal coupler
50
of the present invention utilizes a similar concept by extending the gain of the radiating elements
12
, through a capacitive link, to a larger antenna. By using a capacitive link, actual contact of the radiating elements
12
and the conductive elements
80
is not necessary.
Included as a part of the support
52
are fasteners
74
. The fasteners
74
are located on the periphery of the support
52
and protrude away from and essentially normal to the first surface
60
. The fasteners
74
are biased toward the center of the capacitive signal coupler
50
and have on their distal end, a clip portion
76
. When attached to a transceiver, the clip portions
76
engage with corresponding slots
78
(Depicted in
FIG. 5
) on the transceiver enclosure
10
and function to reversibly secure the capacitive signal coupler
50
to the transceiver enclosure
10
while also maintaining the two components in operative alignment in the x, y and z coordinates. The fasteners
74
are easily disengaged from the slots
78
in order to remove the capacitive signal coupler
50
from the transceiver enclosure
10
. Since in order to maintain a consistent capacitive connection, the conductive elements
80
and the radiating elements
12
must be kept in a fixed position relative to each other, the fasteners
74
, along with the corresponding slots
78
also aid in assuring that a proper alignment between these elements is maintained.
Alternately, an alignment pin and spacer could be utilized to further ensure an accurate and consistent x, y and z coordinate position.
Focusing specifically on
FIG. 4
, the support
52
of the capacitive signal coupler
50
, includes on its second surface
70
a connector
90
(also shown in FIG.
3
). The second surface
70
is the surface that will be left exposed when the capacitive signal coupler
50
is engaged with a transceiver enclosure. The second surface
70
of the capacitive signal coupling device
50
and the surface
91
of the connector
90
are covered with a metalized grounding element
94
. The combination of the conductive elements
80
, the grounding element
94
and the dielectric properties of the support
52
, form a patch antenna system similar to that present in a preferred embodiment of the radiating enclosure
10
. By locating the conductive elements
80
in close proximity to and aligned with the radiating elements
12
, a capacitive link is formed between the radiating elements
12
on the radiating enclosure
10
and the conductive elements
80
on the support
52
. In a preferred embodiment, the connector
90
includes a conductor pin
92
extending through the central axis of the connector, contacting the conductive elements
80
. A simultaneous connection can therefore be made to the grounding element
94
and the conductive elements
80
. The connector
90
is preferably formatted so that a low cost screw type radio frequency connector, such as UHF, SMA or TNC connector can be utilized to make this connection.
To make the external connection to the capacitive signal coupler
50
, a cable
106
, preferably includes a threaded connector
100
. The connector
100
is formed so that it can be easily handled by a user, making attachment and removal simple. The cable
106
extends from the connector
100
and is of such a length to allow it to extend from the radiating enclosure
10
to a similarly formatted connector located on a peripheral device.
Referring now to
FIG. 5
, the capacitive signal coupler
50
of the present invention is shown as it would align and operatively connect to a radiating enclosure
10
. The dashed lines indicate how the active radiating elements
12
of a radiating enclosure would align with the capacitive elements
80
of the capacitive signal coupler
50
. The shape of the capacitive signal coupler
50
is such that it conforms essentially to the shape of the radiating enclosure
10
and when attached will give the appearance of structural uniformity. The conductive elements
80
are positioned on the first surface
60
of the capacitive signal coupler
50
so that when the coupler is attached to the radiating enclosure
10
, as depicted in
FIG. 5
, the conductive elements
80
will accurately align in the x, y, and z coordinates, with the active radiating elements
12
positioned on the second surface
16
of the radiating enclosure.
Referring now to
FIGS. 6A and 6B
, a cross section is shown of the capacitive signal coupler
50
of the present invention. The radiating enclosure
10
is shown with an integrated patch antenna system. The patch antenna is formed from three main components: 1) a dielectric body
11
, 2) a groundplane material
96
distributed on the interior surface of the body
11
, and 3) an active radiating element
12
on the exterior surface of the transceiver enclosure
10
. The connection between the radiating enclosure and the transceiver circuitry is made through a connector, partially comprising a boss
104
and conductor pin
108
as best shown in FIG.
6
A. Further details of this type of patch antenna are set out in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 9/316,459, filed on May 21, 1999, which has already been incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Briefly, as best shown in
FIG. 6A
the conductor pin
108
extends through the cover portion of the transceiver body
11
and contacts the radiating element
12
. In conjunction with the groundplane material
96
distributed on the interior surface of the body
11
, and the surface
104
of the boss, this arrangement provides a coaxial connection from the patch antenna to the internal transceiver circuitry
14
.
The capacitive signal coupler
50
of the present invention provides a simultaneous and preferably coaxial connection to the radiating element and internal circuitry of the transceiver unit
5
. An external coaxial connector
90
is provided so that a peripheral device can be coupled to the transceiver circuitry. The capacitive signal coupling device
50
as shown in
FIG. 6A
includes a support
52
formed from a dielectric material. The support
52
includes at least one connector
90
formed into its exterior surface and preferably in the form of an essentially normally protruding boss. Extending through the central axis of the connector
90
, an elongate conductor
92
contacts a conductive element
80
located on the interior surface
60
of the coupler body
5
52
. A grounding element
94
is preferably distributed on the exterior surface
70
of the support and also on the surface
91
of the connector
90
.
The connector
90
, the conducting element
80
, the dielectric body
52
and the grounding element
94
, form an antenna and by it capacitively coupling to the transceiver antenna, allow an external or otherwise peripheral device to be connected to the capacitive signal coupler
50
and, as will be discussed in conjunction with
FIG. 6B
, to the antenna and transceiver circuitry.
A cable
106
with an end mounted connector
100
is designed to mate with the connector
90
integrated into the support
52
. Alternately, instead of providing a connection device such as the coaxial arrangement previously described, a cable can be molded into the support
52
, forming an integral component of the
20
capacitive signal coupler
50
.
FIG. 6B
, shows a closer view of a portion of the capacitive signal coupler
50
as it engages with a radiating enclosure.
Specifically, it can be seen in
FIG. 6B
that when the capacitive signal coupler
50
is positioned on the radiating enclosure
10
, the radiating element
12
of the radiating enclosure
10
, aligns with the conductive element
80
on the capacitive signal coupler
50
. A capacitive coupling is achieved by maintaining a consistent air gap
102
between the radiating element
12
and the conductive element
80
. The fasteners
74
and clips
76
secure the capacitive signal coupling device
50
in a proper x, y and z alignment, thereby maintaining a proper vertical gap
102
as well as the proper horizontal alignment. Since the connection is capacitive, even if there is a protective coating, sticker or paint over the radiating element
12
, the capacitive coupling can still be achieved.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated in the above description and drawings, it is understood that this description is by example only and that different embodiments may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The invention therefore should not be restricted, except within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A method, of coupling an external device to an antenna radiating element comprising:forming a support-with first and second surfaces; attaching a conductive element to said first surface; applying a grounding element to said second surface; providing a connection to said conductive element and said grounding element; attaching said support to a transceiver system, said transceiver system having a radiating enclosure; providing recessed notches in the radiating enclosure; providing fasteners on the periphery of said support; and engaging respective said fasteners within corresponding said recessed notches.
- 2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein engaging said fasteners within said recessed notches maintains said conductive element and said antenna radiating element in operative alignment.
- 3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein engaging said fasteners within said recessed notches maintains a consistent air gap between said conductive element and said antenna radiating element.
- 4. An antenna radiating element coupler comprising:a support having first and second surfaces; said support removably attachable to an enclosure; at least one conductive element disposed on said first surface, the at least one conductive element being operatively aligned with an antenna radiating element; a grounding element disposed on said second surface; a connector attached to said second surface of said support; and an enclosure.
- 5. The device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said antenna radiating element is an active element in a radiating enclosure.
- 6. The device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said antenna radiating element is an active element in a patch antenna system.
- 7. A method of coupling an external device to an antenna radiating element that is an active element in a radiating enclosure, the method comprising:forming a support with first and second surfaces; removably attaching said support to an enclosure; attaching a conductive element to said first surface; applying a grounding element to said second surface; and providing a connection to said conductive element and said grounding element.
- 8. A method of coupling an external device to an antenna radiating element comprising:forming a support with first and second surfaces; removably attaching said support to an enclosure; attaching a conductive element to said first surface; applying a grounding element to said second surface; providing a connection to said conductive element and said grounding element; operatively aligning said conductive element with said antenna radiating element; and forming a capacitive connection between said conductive element and said antenna radiating element.
- 9. A method of coupling an external device to an antenna radiating element that is an active element of a patch antenna system, the method comprising:forming a support with first and second surfaces; removably attaching said support to an enclosure; attaching a conductive element to said first surface; applying a grounding element to said second surface; and providing a connection to said conductive element and said grounding element.
- 10. An antenna radiating element coupler comprising:a support having first and second surfaces; said support removably attachable to an enclosure; at least one conductive element disposed on said first surface, the at least one conductive element having a capacitive connection with an antenna radiating element; a grounding element disposed on said second surface; a connector attached to said second surface of said support; and an enclosure.
- 11. An antenna radiating element coupler comprising:a support having first and second surfaces; said support removably attachable to an enclosure; at least one conductive element disposed on said first surface; a grounding element disposed on said second surface; a connector attached to said second surface of said support; an enclosure; and a fastener to maintain a consistent air gap between said at least one conductive element and an antenna radiating element.
- 12. The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said fastener further maintains said at least one conductive element and said radiating element in alignment.
US Referenced Citations (14)