Patent Application
20210257719
The present disclosure relates to the field of lighting poles. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a lighting pole having at least one integrated antenna.
With an increasing demand for wireless data traffic and e.g. broadband coverage, both for cellular traffic but also for an increasing number of wirelessly connected internet-of-things (IOT) devices, providers of the necessary infrastructure may be challenged to provide a sufficient antenna density. Especially in urban areas, the physical space available for new cell sites and antenna installations may be limited, and the competition for such available space may be large and the prices may be high.
By co-locating antennas together with other urban infrastructure, such as for example lighting poles, the problem of having to find more physical space may at least partially be avoided. Currently available installations which offer combined lighting poles and antennas may however be bulky, less aesthetically appealing and not very flexible. There is therefore a need for an improved way of providing antennas together with lighting poles.
US2011/156984A1 discloses a lighting pole having a plurality of antennae extending around a vertical member in a longitudinal direction.
To at least partially fulfill the above needs, the present disclosure seeks to provide an improved way of integrating antennas with lighting poles. To achieve this, a lighting pole as defined in the independent claim is provided. Further embodiments of the present disclosure are provided in the dependent claims.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a lighting pole is provided. The lighting pole may include a luminaire, an internal structural support element extending in a longitudinal direction and adapted to support the luminaire (e.g. over ground), and at least one antenna having a tubular shape and arranged extending in the longitudinal direction around the structural support element.
The lighting pole may for example be a street light, a park light or similar. The at least one antenna may for example be a cellular antenna, an antenna for broadband connectivity, an antenna for IOT, or similar. Providing the at least one antenna around the structural support element may provide an integrated design which do not add to the bulk shape of the lighting pole. When the lighting pole is installed, the luminaire (e.g. a lighting fixture, in which a lighting source may be installed) may be supported by the structural support element and the exact position of the antenna may be varied along the structural support element. The at least one antenna may for example be integrated below the luminaire, and extra antennas may be added without affecting the support of the luminaire.
The tubular shaped antenna has a circumferential, hollow wall having an inside surface formed by an inner wall, and an outside surface formed by an outer wall, the inside surface forming the wall of a hollow core. Between said inner wall and said outer wall a wall cavity is formed, accommodating parts of the antenna. The structural support element extends through said hollow core, hence an outside of the structural support element facing the inside surface (hence inner wall) of the tubular shaped antenna.
The lighting pole is such that the at least one antenna includes at least a first antenna and a second antenna. Both the first antenna and the second antenna may have a tubular shape, and the first antenna and the second antenna may be arranged in a stack (i.e. such that they are positioned one after another) and both extend in the longitudinal direction around the structural support element. The lighting pole may further include at least one radio cable which may be connected in one end to the second antenna and routed through a routing space provided between an outside of the structural support element and an inside surface of the first antenna. Here, it is envisaged that when the lighting pole is installed e.g. on ground, the second antenna is above the first antenna. By using the routing space available between the structural support element and the first antenna, the cable (or cables) for the second antenna may be routed such that they are hidden from the outside, and without having to use e.g. other spaces where other cables (for e.g. lighting power or IOT data) may be present. Likewise, there may be a similar routing space provided between the structural support element and the second antenna. If more than two antennas are included, cables for e.g. a third antenna located above the second antenna may be routed first through the routing space at the first antenna, and then also through the routing space at the second antenna, and so on and so forth.
In some embodiments, the structural support element may be a pole or tube. The structural support element may for example be made of metal (such as for example steel, or any other suitable metal), and/or a composite material such as glass fiber or carbon fiber. It is envisaged also that the structural support element may for example be made from other suitable materials, as long as enough rigidity is provided to support the luminaire and to withstand e.g. wind or other forces which may act on the lighting pole.
In some embodiments, when the lighting pole is in an installed state (i.e. when the lighting pole is installed to e.g. the ground), a majority (or all) of the weight of the luminaire may be carried by the structural support element. Consequently, little or no weight of the luminaire may be carried by the at least one antenna. As the at least one antenna does not form part of the structural support element, extra antennas may for example be added, and enough structural strength to support e.g. long arms and/or heavy luminaires may still be provided by the structural support element without putting e.g. extra load on the at least one antenna.
In some embodiments, the lighting pole may further include a cable routing element arranged around the structural support element within the routing space (e.g. at the first and/or second antenna) and adapted to support the at least one radio cable. The routing element may be shaped like a tube or e.g. a sleeve, and may for example provide slots/grooves on its outside in which one or more cables may be arranged/guided, to provide a tidy installation of the cables within the routing space(s). If more than one routing space is provided, it is envisaged that such cable routing elements may be provided in each available routing space.
During installation of the lighting pole, it is envisaged that for example the cables may first be arranged within the cable routing element. The routing element and cables may then be fitted inside the corresponding antenna (or vice versa). Once all cables and all necessary cable routing elements are properly arranged, and fitted within corresponding antennas, the structural support element may finally be inserted through the cable routing element and the antennas. It is envisaged also that the cable(s) may be pre-assembled before mounting, and fitted with one or more connectors for the antenna(s).
In some embodiments, the cable routing elements(s) may be an integrated part of the structural support element. The cable routing element part(s) of the structural support element may for example extend along the full length of the structural support element, or be present e.g. only where cables are or will be provided. Integrating the cable routing element(s) into the structural support element may for example increase a diameter of the structural support element, which in turn may provide an increased rigidity/stiffness and less bending of the antenna(s) due to e.g. external forces acting on the lighting pole.
In some embodiments, a distance between the outside of the structural support element and the inside surface of the first antenna (and/or the second, and/or additional, antenna(s) if required), in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the structural support element, may be for example between 20 to 150 mm. By providing a sufficient distance, the corresponding routing space may be large enough to serve as a “bending space”. Phrased differently, if the lighting pole is acted upon by external forces (from e.g. wind), the structural support element may bend within the routing space (or “bending space”) without hitting the inner surface of the antenna(s), and thereby avoid damaging the antennas. In some embodiments, for example if one or more cable routing element is provided as integrated part(s) of the structural support element, it is envisaged that the distance may be as small as 0 mm (e.g. between 0 to 150 mm).
In some embodiments, the lighting pole may further include at least one power cable. The at least one power cable may be connected in one end to the luminaire (and/or to a lighting source provided in the luminaire) and be routed through an inside of the structural support element. By routing cables for power and cables for the antennas (i.e. RF cables) through separate spaces, effects of e.g. interference and similar may be avoided or at least reduced.
In some embodiments, the lighting pole may further include at least one mounting bracket with which the at least one antenna may be mounted to the structural support element. The mounting bracket(s) may for example reduce stress on the antennas when mounted to the structural support element, and provide sufficient distance between antennas such that e.g. installation and/or service of connections and cables may be made easier, and such that bending of the structural support element may have a reduced influence on the antennas.
In some embodiments, an outside of the at least one antenna may form part of an outside of the lighting pole. Phrased differently, the antennas may be integrated such that they are “camouflaged” from the outside, which may make the lighting pole more visually/aesthetically appealing. Herein, it is envisaged that the antennas may for example be covered with a “radome” material which may be visually similar to a material of the rest of the lighting pole.
In some embodiments, the lighting pole may further include a base which may be adapted for mounting the lighting pole to ground. The lighting pole may further include a mid-pole section mounted on the base, and extending along the longitudinal direction towards the at least one antenna and the structural support element. The structural support element may extend at least between the mid-pole section and the luminaire.
In some embodiments, the structural support element may extend through the mid-pole section and at least partly through the base. In these or other embodiments, cables (such as cables for the luminaire and/or the antenna, or IOT data cables) may be routed also through mid-pole section and the base and for example down into one or more channels/conduits in ground.
In some embodiments, the lighting pole may include at least one internet-of-things (IOT) space adapted to receive an IOT device.
In some embodiments, the lighting pole may include at least one data cable having an end which terminates in one end in the at least one IOT space, and which is routed through the inside of the structural support element. Like for the power cable to the luminaire (if available), routing of power and data cables separately from RF antenna cables may e.g. reduce interference.
In some embodiments, an outside of the at least one IOT space may form part of an outside of the lighting pole. This may further improve the visual/aesthetical appeal of the lighting pole, and help to “camouflage” also the IOT space from the outside.
The present disclosure relates to all possible combinations of features recited in the claims. Further objects and advantages of the various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below by means of one or more exemplifying embodiments.
Exemplifying embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the drawings, like reference numerals will be used for like elements unless stated otherwise. Unless explicitly stated to the contrary, the drawings show only such elements that are necessary to illustrate the example embodiments, while other elements, in the interest of clarity, may be omitted or merely suggested. As illustrated in the figures, the sizes of elements and regions may not necessarily be drawn to scale and may e.g. be exaggerated for illustrative purposes and, thus, are provided to illustrate the general structures of the embodiments.
Exemplifying embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show currently preferred embodiments, but the invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the skilled person.
With reference to
The lighting pole 100 further includes a mid-pole section 140 and a base 150 which is mounted, or may be mounted, to a ground 160. The structural support element 120 may carry the weight of the luminaire 110, such that no or little load is applied on the antenna 130. Although the lighting pole 100 in the embodiment shown in
In some embodiments of the lighting pole, the mid-pole section 140 may be optional. It may, for example, be envisaged that the antenna (or several antennas) and the structural support element replaces the mid-pole section and extends all the way down to the base. In some embodiments, it is envisaged that the base is also optional, or at least that the base is an integrated part of the structural support element, such that the structural support element may be mounted e.g. directly to ground, a roof-top, a fence, or other structures on which the lighting pole may be installed.
In the embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
The outside or outer wall 131 (also shown in
With reference to
The structural support element 120 is shaped like a hollow rod (e.g. as a cylinder) and has an internal space. A power cable 182 is routed through this internal space, i.e. through an inside 393, (shown in more detail in
Although the embodiment illustrated in
The spacing between antennas may be adapted such that cables may easily be connected, such that one or more mounting brackets (as will be described later herein) may be fitted, and with regards to e.g. environmental conditions.
With reference to
A distance d1 between the outside of the structural support element 320 and an inside surface 332 of an antenna (e.g. the antenna 330, and/or e.g. the first antenna 130a in the embodiment illustrated in
With reference to
Illustrated in
By providing the structural support element within the antennas, the lighting pole of the present disclosure may offer a more flexible way of co-locating antennas with lighting poles. The structural support element may support the luminaire(s) of the lighting pole, such that no or little weight of the luminaire(s) is carried by the antennas. This may allow for one or multiple luminaires to be carried without having to adapt the shape/structural strength of the antennas, which in turn may offer a broader range of suitable antennas which may be integrated within the lighting pole.
Although features and elements are described above in particular combinations, each feature or element may be used alone without the other features and elements or in various combinations with or without other features and elements.
Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain features are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be used to advantage.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18180539.1 | Jun 2018 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2019/066877 | 6/25/2019 | WO | 00 |
