This application relates to antenna assemblies for nodes of a network, and, more particularly, to sectorized antenna assemblies for nodes of a network.
Wireless mesh networks, such as those utilized by resource distribution networks (e.g., power, gas, or water distribution networks), often utilize one or more network nodes, such as a network gateway, to support communications between various sensors, devices, and users of the resource distribution network. Communications to and from the nodes are enabled by one or more antennas. To provide sufficient coverage, existing antennas must be installed remotely and vertically offset from the node. Such installations result in an inefficient use of valuable real estate on a support structure such as a utility pole. For example, such installations may require at least 23 feet of vertical space on the support structure to provide the sufficient coverage. Moreover, the remote relative positioning of the antennas and nodes of such installations limits the access to the individual components and/or requires extra time to access for situations such as installation, servicing, replacement, etc.
Embodiments covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various embodiments and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim.
According to certain embodiments, a sectorized antenna assembly includes a mounting device, a support arm, a first antenna assembly, and a second antenna assembly. The mounting device is configured to support the sectorized antenna assembly on a structure. The support arm is connected to the mounting device and extends outwards from the mounting device in a lateral direction. The first antenna assembly includes a first antenna bracket and a first sector antenna. In certain examples, the first antenna bracket is directly connected to the mounting device and supports the first sector antenna. The second antenna assembly includes a second antenna bracket and a second sector antenna. The second sector antenna is supported on the second antenna bracket, and in certain embodiments, the second antenna assembly is supported by the support arm such that the support arm is between the second sector antenna and the mounting device and such that the second antenna assembly is offset in the lateral direction from the mounting device compared to the first antenna assembly.
According to various embodiments, a sectorized antenna assembly includes a mounting device, a first antenna assembly, and a second antenna assembly. The mounting device is configured to support the sectorized antenna assembly on a structure. The first antenna assembly includes a first antenna bracket and a first sector antenna, and the first antenna bracket supports the first sector antenna relative to the mounting device. The second antenna assembly includes a second antenna bracket and a second sector antenna, and the second antenna bracket supports the second sector antenna relative to the mounting device. In certain embodiments, the first sector antenna is at a first vertical height relative to the mounting device, and the second sector antenna is at a second vertical height relative to the mounting device that is vertically offset from the first vertical height and such that the first sector antenna at least partially overlaps the second sector antenna in a lateral direction.
According to some embodiments, a sectorized antenna assembly includes a mounting device, a first antenna assembly, and a second antenna assembly. The mounting device is configured to support the sectorized antenna assembly on a structure. In various embodiments, the mounting device includes at least one of a first type of mounting device or a second type of mounting device that is different from the first type of mounting device. The first antenna assembly includes a first antenna bracket and a first sector antenna, and the first antenna bracket is directly connected to the mounting device and supports the first sector antenna. The second antenna assembly includes a second antenna bracket and a second sector antenna, and the second antenna bracket is directly connected to the mounting device and supports the second sector antenna. In certain embodiments, the first antenna bracket and the second antenna bracket each include a first mounting feature configured to connect to the first type of mounting device and a second mounting feature configured to connect to the second type of mounting device.
Various implementations described herein can include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which cannot necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.
The specification makes reference to the following appended figures, in which use of like reference numerals in different figures is intended to illustrate like or analogous components.
The subject matter of embodiments of the present disclosure is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Directional references such as “up,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “lateral,” “longitudinal,” “front,” and “back,” among others, are intended to refer to the orientation as illustrated and described in the figure (or figures) to which the components and directions are referencing.
Described herein is a sectorized antenna assembly for a node of a mesh network. In certain aspects, the sectorized antenna assembly includes one or more universal mounting brackets with mounting features such that the sectorized antenna assembly can be mounted on various support structures or surfaces as desired, including, but not limited to, wooden poles, metal poles, flat surfaces, etc. In certain embodiments, the sectorized antenna assembly supports a plurality of sector or directional antennas within a confined vertical space, thereby minimizing the vertical space needed on the support structure or surface. In some cases, the confined space may be a height of about 36 inches, although it need not be 36 inches in other examples. In various examples, the sectorized antenna assembly includes a support arm that supports at least one sector antenna such that the at least one sector antenna is offset from the support structure or surface compared to another sector antenna of the sectorized antenna assembly. In some embodiments, the support arm may support the node of the mesh network in addition to the at least one sector antenna. In certain embodiments, a length of the support arm is adjustable such that a distance between the at least one sector antenna (and optionally the node) and the support structure is adjustable. Optionally, a bracket supporting a particular sector antenna of the sectorized antenna assembly is tiltable such that the particular sector antenna can be controlled to more effectively cover a particular area and/or to minimize interference in wireless transmissions. In certain cases, the sectorized antenna assembly is collapsible.
Each of the one or more sector antennas 104 have a radiation pattern or coverage measured in degrees of an arc. In the embodiment of
In some embodiments, at least one antenna assembly 108A-C is supported on a mounting bracket 110 that is directly connected to one or more mounting devices 112 (discussed in detail below). As one non-limiting example, in the configuration illustrated in
Referring to
As previously mentioned, each antenna assembly 108A-C may be supported on a mounting bracket 110 (directly to the one or more mounting devices 112) or an intermediate bracket 114 (indirectly to the one or more mounting devices 112). In some optional examples, at least one antenna assembly (e.g., antenna assemblies 108B-C) may be supported on a corresponding intermediate bracket 114 (with or without the node 102) and offset from the one or more mounting devices 112 to minimize or reduce signal shadowing.
Referring to the mounting bracket 110, and as best illustrated in
In
In embodiments where one or more of the antenna assemblies 108A-C (and/or the node 102) are offset in the lateral direction, the sectorized antenna assembly 100 may include a support arm assembly 140. The support arm assembly 140 generally includes a support arm bracket 142 and a support arm 144. The support arm 144 may be connected to the support arm bracket 142 via various suitable attachment mechanisms, including but not limited to mechanical fasteners. In some embodiments, and referring to
The support arm bracket 142 may be substantially similar to the mounting bracket 110 and includes the at least one first mounting feature 126 and the at least one second mounting feature 128. Similar to the mounting bracket 110, the support arm bracket 142 includes a support region 146. The support region 146 engages and supports the support arm 144 as best illustrated in
In some embodiments, the intermediate bracket(s) 114 may be directly connected to the support arm assembly 140 via various suitable attachment mechanisms as desired. In other examples, and as illustrated in
The node bracket 148 includes a receiving area 152 in which the node 102 may be supported via various suitable mechanisms as desired, including but not limited to mechanical fasteners. The node 102 may be various types of nodes of the mesh network, and the particular node 102 illustrated should not be considered limiting on the disclosure. In certain examples, the node 102 may include various electronics and components for supporting multiple communication technologies as desired. As some non-limiting examples, the node 102 may include one or more radios or communication modules, a processor and memory, a power source such as a battery, one or more sensors, a global positioning (or other location detection) antenna 154, one or more cellular (omnidirectional) antennas 156, and/or other components as desired. In one non-limiting example, the node 102 may be a network gateway for the mesh network.
In these examples, the support arm assembly 140 directly connects with the one or more mounting devices 112 such that the antenna assemblies 108B-C are not directly connected to the one or more mounting devices 112. While the two antenna assemblies 108B-C are illustrated as being supported by the support arm assembly 140, in other examples, a single antenna assembly or more than two antenna assemblies may be supported by the support arm assembly 140. Optionally, and as best illustrated in
A method of assembling the sectorized antenna assembly 100 may include assembling at least one antenna assembly (e.g., the antenna assembly 108A) with a corresponding mounting bracket 110, and assembling the one or more mounting devices 112 with the mounting bracket 110 such that the at least one antenna assembly is directly connected to the one or more mounting devices 112.
Referring to
Referring to
In various embodiments, the method may optionally include controlling an angle of one or more sector antennas 104 relative to the vertical axis 120. In some embodiments, controlling the angel of one or more sector antennas 104 may include tilting the one or more sector antennas 104 such that an axis 116 of the particular antenna assembly 108A-C is at the non-parallel angle 118 relative to the vertical axis 120.
In certain embodiments, a vertical space or height occupied by the sectorized antenna assembly 100 in the configuration illustrated in
A collection of exemplary embodiments are provided below, including at least some explicitly enumerated as “Illustrations” providing additional description of a variety of example embodiments in accordance with the concepts described herein. These illustrations are not meant to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive; and the disclosure not limited to these example illustrations but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations within the scope of the issued claims and their equivalents.
Illustration 1. A sectorized antenna assembly comprising: a mounting device configured to support the sectorized antenna assembly on a structure; a support arm connected to the mounting device and extending outwards from the mounting device in a lateral direction; a first antenna assembly comprising a first antenna bracket and a first sector antenna, wherein the first antenna bracket is directly connected to the mounting device and supports the first sector antenna; and a second antenna assembly comprising a second antenna bracket and a second sector antenna, wherein the second sector antenna is supported on the second antenna bracket, and wherein the second antenna assembly is supported by the support arm such that the support arm is between the second sector antenna and the mounting device and such that the second antenna assembly is offset in the lateral direction from the mounting device compared to the first antenna assembly.
Illustration 2. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein a length of the support arm is adjustable such that a distance by which the second antenna assembly is offset from the mounting device in the lateral direction is adjustable.
Illustration 3. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising a node bracket configured to support a node of a wireless network, wherein the node bracket is connected to the support arm, and wherein the second antenna bracket is connected to the node bracket.
Illustration 4. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein at least one of the first antenna bracket or the second antenna bracket is tiltable relative to a vertical axis.
Illustration 5. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the mounting device comprises at least one of a mounting band or a mounting rod.
Illustration 6. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the first sector antenna is at a first vertical height relative to the mounting device, and wherein the second sector antenna is at a second vertical height relative to the mounting device that is vertically offset from the first vertical height and such that the first sector antenna at least partially overlaps the second sector antenna in the lateral direction.
Illustration 7. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the first antenna bracket comprises a first mounting feature configured to connect to a first type of mounting device and a second mounting feature configured to connect to a second type of mounting device that is different from the first type of mounting device, and wherein the mounting device comprises at least one of the first type of mounting device or the second type of mounting device.
Illustration 8. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein a distance between the second antenna assembly and the mounting device in the lateral direction is adjustable.
Illustration 9. A sectorized antenna assembly comprising: a mounting device configured to support the sectorized antenna assembly on a structure; a first antenna assembly comprising a first antenna bracket and a first sector antenna, wherein the first antenna bracket supports the first sector antenna relative to the mounting device; and a second antenna assembly comprising a second antenna bracket and a second sector antenna, wherein the second antenna bracket supports the second sector antenna relative to the mounting device, wherein the first sector antenna is at a first vertical height relative to the mounting device, and wherein the second sector antenna is at a second vertical height relative to the mounting device that is vertically offset from the first vertical height and such that the first sector antenna at least partially overlaps the second sector antenna in a lateral direction.
Illustration 10. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the first antenna bracket is tiltable relative to the mounting device such that an orientation of the first sector antenna relative to the mounting device is adjustable.
Illustration 11. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the sectorized antenna assembly comprises a top end and a bottom end, wherein at least one of the first antenna assembly or the second antenna assembly defined the bottom end, and wherein a distance from the top end to the bottom end is 36 inches.
Illustration 12. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising a support arm connected to the mounting device and extending outwards from the mounting device in the lateral direction, and wherein the support arm supports the second antenna assembly such that the support arm is between the second sector antenna and the mounting device and such that the second antenna assembly is offset in the lateral direction from the mounting device compared to the first antenna assembly.
Illustration 13. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprises a third antenna assembly comprising a third antenna bracket and a third sector antenna, wherein the support arm supports the third antenna bracket relative to the mounting device and such that an orientation of the third sector antenna relative to the support arm is different from an orientation of the second sector antenna relative to the support arm.
Illustration 14. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein a distance between the second antenna assembly and the mounting device in the lateral direction is adjustable.
Illustration 15. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising a node bracket configured to support a node of a wireless network, wherein the node bracket is connected to the support arm, and wherein the second antenna bracket is connected to the node bracket.
Illustration 16. A sectorized antenna assembly comprising: a mounting device configured to support the sectorized antenna assembly on a structure, wherein the mounting device comprises at least one of a first type of mounting device or a second type of mounting device that is different from the first type of mounting device; a first antenna assembly comprising a first antenna bracket and a first sector antenna, wherein the first antenna bracket is directly connected to the mounting device and supports the first sector antenna; and a second antenna assembly comprising a second antenna bracket and a second sector antenna, wherein the second antenna bracket is directly connected to the mounting device and supports the second sector antenna, wherein the first antenna bracket and the second antenna bracket each comprise a first mounting feature configured to connect to the first type of mounting device and a second mounting feature configured to connect to the second type of mounting device.
Illustration 17. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the first mounting feature comprises a pair of slots aligned in a first direction on each of the first antenna bracket and the second antenna bracket, and wherein the second mounting feature comprises an aperture extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pair of aligned slots.
Illustration 18. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the first type of mounting device comprises a metal band configured to extend through the pair of slots on each of the first antenna bracket and the second antenna bracket, and wherein the second type of mounting device comprises a bolt configured to engage each of the first antenna bracket and the second antenna bracket via the aperture.
Illustration 19. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the first antenna bracket and the second antenna bracket are each tiltable relative to the mounting device.
Illustration 20. The sectorized antenna assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the first sector antenna and the second sector antenna are aligned in a lateral direction.
The above-described aspects are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications can be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims that follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the described embodiments, nor the claims that follow.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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7084834 | Hopkins | Aug 2006 | B1 |
7106273 | Brunson | Sep 2006 | B1 |
20060092090 | Greenfield | May 2006 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20220069433 A1 | Mar 2022 | US |