Wireless communication apparatus and structure for mounting communication equipment

• US 10,097,226 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2015
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Shimizu, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Justus, Ralph H
• Application Number:
  US15/115,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20160352376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 4555757, 455561, 4555621, 455 39, 455 901- 903, 343757, 343758, 343882, 343763
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1228 on a boom
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/134 Rear-feeds; Splash plate feeds
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/03 Constructional details, e.g. casings, housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 Waterproofing of transmission device

Abstract

A mounting base (14) is fixed to an antenna (13) or an antenna bracket (15) for supporting the antenna (13). A baseband unit (11) and an RF unit (12) are fixed to the mounting base (14). The baseband unit (11) fixed to the mounting base (14) is disposed to face a back part (132) of the antenna (13) and to form a space between the back part (132) and the first enclosure (111). The RF unit (12) fixed to the mounting base (14) is disposed in the space formed between the back part (132) of the antenna (13) and the baseband unit (11) and is coupled to a waveguide flange (132) of the antenna (13). Thus, for example, in a configuration of a point-to-point wireless apparatus in which an RF unit and a baseband unit are separated, restrictions on installation space of the apparatus can be facilitated.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a mounting base;

a baseband unit comprising a first enclosure, the first enclosure adapted to accommodate a first electronic circuit module for performing baseband digital signal processing and to protect the first electronic circuit module from ingress of at least one of water and dust when installed outdoors; and

a radio frequency (RF) unit comprising a second enclosure, the second enclosure adapted to accommodate a second electronic circuit module for performing analog signal processing at a carrier frequency and to protect the second electronic circuit module from ingress of at least one of water and dust when installed outdoors, wherein

the mounting base is adapted to be fixed to an antenna that includes a front part arranged to radiate an electric field and a back part opposite to the front part for communicating with a counterpart apparatus using a point-to-point wireless technology or fixed to an antenna bracket for supporting the antenna,

the baseband unit is adapted to be supported by the mounting base when the first enclosure is fixed to the mounting base,

the baseband unit supported by the mounting base is disposed to face the back part and to form a space between the back part and the first enclosure,

the RF unit is adapted to be supported by the mounting base when the second enclosure is fixed to the mounting base, and

the RF unit is adapted to be supported by the mounting base in a manner such that the RF unit is disposed in the space and coupled to the back part of the antenna.

2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first enclosure comprises a first surface that faces the back part when the first enclosure is supported by the mounting base, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of side surfaces connecting the first surface to the second surface,

a recessed region is formed in a central part of the first surface, and

the RF unit is adapted to be supported by the mounting base in a manner that at least a part of the second enclosure is disposed in the recessed region, in a side view of the first enclosure, when the baseband unit and the RF unit are supported by the mounting base.

3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the RF unit supported by the mounting base is adapted to be selectively disposed in a first orientation corresponding to a first polarization or in a second orientation corresponding to a second polarization rotated 90 degrees from the first polarization, and

the recessed region has a shape configured to not interfere with the second enclosure when the RF unit is either in the first orientation or the second orientation.

4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the plurality of side surfaces include a top surface that is positioned at a vertically upper side when the mounting base is mounted on the antenna or the antenna bracket, and

the first surface comprises a first region that is positioned between the top surface and the recessed region, and heat-dissipation fins are formed in the first region.

5. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the plurality of side surfaces comprise a bottom surface that is positioned at a vertically lower side when the mounting base is mounted on the antenna or the antenna bracket,

the first surface comprises a second region that is positioned between the recessed region and the bottom surface,

in a side view of the first enclosure, a thickness between the second region and the second surface is greater than a thickness between the recessed region and the second surface, and

the bottom surface comprises a first electrical-cable receptacle for connecting the base band unit to an external apparatus and a second communication-cable receptacle for connecting the baseband unit to the RF unit.

6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the RF unit supported by the mounting base is adapted to be selectively disposed in a first orientation corresponding to a first polarization or in a second orientation corresponding to a second polarization rotated 90 degrees from the first polarization, and

the mounting base is adapted to support the first enclosure and the second enclosure in a manner such that the first enclosure does not interfere with the second enclosure when the RF unit is either in the first orientation or the second orientation.

7. A wireless communication apparatus configured to perform wireless communication with a counterpart apparatus using a point-to-point wireless technology, the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a baseband unit comprising a first enclosure, wherein the first enclosure is adapted to accommodate a first electronic circuit module for performing baseband digital signal processing and to protect the first electronic circuit module from ingress of at least one of water and dust when installed outdoors, and the first enclosure comprises a handle; and

a Radio frequency (RF) unit comprising a second enclosure, wherein the second enclosure is adapted to be connected to the baseband unit with a communication cable for transmitting and receiving signals at an intermediate frequency, to accommodate a second electronic circuit module for performing analog signal processing at a carrier frequency, and to protect the second electronic circuit module from ingress of at least one of water and dust when installed outdoors; and

a mounting base adapted to support the second enclosure and the first enclosure and to fix the first enclosure and the second enclosure to a structure, the first enclosure being mounted to cover the second enclosure.

8. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the RF unit supported by the mounting base is adapted to be selectively disposed in a first orientation corresponding to a first polarization or in a second orientation corresponding to a second polarization rotated 90 degrees from the first polarization, and

the mounting base is adapted to support the first enclosure and the second enclosure in a manner such that the first enclosure does not interfere with the second enclosure when the RF unit is either in the first orientation or the second orientation.

9. A wireless communication apparatus configured to perform wireless communication with a counterpart apparatus using a point-to-point wireless technology, the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a baseband unit comprising a first enclosure, wherein the first enclosure is adapted to accommodate a first electronic circuit module for performing baseband digital signal processing and to protect the first electronic circuit module from ingress of at least one of water and dust when installed outdoors; and

a Radio frequency (RF) unit comprising a second enclosure, wherein the second enclosure is adapted to be connected to the baseband unit with a communication cable for transmitting and receiving signals at an intermediate frequency, to accommodate a second electronic circuit module for performing analog signal processing at a carrier frequency, and to protect the second electronic circuit module from ingress of at least one of water and dust when installed outdoors, and wherein the second enclosure comprises a first surface on which an antenna interface to be connected to an antenna is formed and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and

a mounting base adapted to support the second enclosure and the first enclosure and to fix the first enclosure and the second enclosure to a structure in a manner such that the second enclosure is located next to the first enclosure and such that the second surface of the second enclosure faces toward the first enclosure.

10. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the RF unit supported by the mounting base is adapted to be selectively disposed in a first orientation corresponding to a first polarization or in a second orientation corresponding to a second polarization rotated 90 degrees from the first polarization, and

the mounting base is adapted to support the first enclosure and the second enclosure in a manner such that the first enclosure does not interfere with the second enclosure when the RF unit is either in the first orientation or the second orientation.