Wireless distribution using cabinets, pedestals, and hand holes

• US 10,629,980 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2019
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schwengler, Thomas, Heinz, John M., Elford, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V
• Application Number:
  US16/259,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20190157742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/04 Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing antenna structures to optimize transmission and reception of wireless signals from ground-based signal distribution devices, which include, but are not limited to, cabinets, pedestals, hand holes, and/or network access point platforms. Wireless applications with such devices and systems might include, without limitation, wireless signal transmission and reception in accordance with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ad/af standards, UMTS, CDMA, LTE, PCS, AWS, EAS, BRS, and/or the like. In some embodiments, an antenna might be provided within a signal distribution device, which might include a container disposed in a ground surface. A top portion of the container might be substantially level with a top portion of the ground surface. The antenna might be communicatively coupled to at least one conduit, at least one optical fiber line, at least one conductive signal line, and/or at least one power line via an apical conduit system installed in a roadway.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

placing one or more first lines in a first channel in a first ground surface;

placing a capping material in the first channel;

placing a container in a second ground surface;

placing one or more second lines in a second channel in a third ground surface, the second channel connecting the container and the first channel, wherein the one or more second lines comprise at least one optical fiber line and at least one conductive signal line;

providing an antenna within a signal distribution device, the signal distribution device comprising the container, a top portion of the container being substantially level with a top portion of the second ground surface; and

communicatively coupling the antenna to at least one of the one or more second lines and to at least one of the one or more first lines, wherein the one or more second lines are communicatively coupled to the antenna via a signal conversion system disposed in the container which processes one or more signals from the at least one optical fiber line and at least one conductive signal line for wireless transmission by the antenna.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the capping material comprises a thermosetting material.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the capping material comprises polyurea.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ground surface is a roadway surface, wherein the second ground surface is a non-roadway surface adjacent to, but separate from, the roadway surface, and wherein the third ground surface is a hybrid surface between the roadway surface and the non-roadway surface, the hybrid surface comprising a portion of the roadway surface and a portion of the non-roadway surface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the capping material serves as road lines on the roadway surface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the antenna within the signal distribution device comprises:

providing a pedestal disposed above the top portion of the container; and

providing the antenna in the pedestal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the pedestal comprises a material that provides predetermined omnidirectional azimuthal radio frequency (“

rf”

) gain.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the antenna within the signal distribution device comprises:

providing an antenna lid covering the top portion of the container; and

providing the antenna in the antenna lid;

wherein the antenna lid is made of a material that provides predetermined omnidirectional azimuthal radio frequency (“

rf”

) gain.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna transmits and receives wireless broadband signals according to a set of protocols selected from a group consisting of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ad, and IEEE 802.11af.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna transmits and receives wireless broadband signals according to a set of protocols selected from a group consisting of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (“

UMTS”

), Code Division Multiple Access (“

CDMA”

), Long Term Evolution (“

LTE”

), Personal Communications Service (“

PCS”

), Advanced Wireless Services (“

AWS”

), Emergency Alert System (“

EAS”

) and Broadband Radio Service (“

BRS”

).

11. A communications system, comprising:

an apical conduit system, comprising;

one or more first lines disposed in a first channel in a first ground surface; and

a capping material disposed around the one or more first lines in the first ground surface;

a wireless communications system, comprising;

a container disposed in a second ground surface;

one or more second lines disposed in a second channel in a third ground surface, wherein the one or more second lines comprise at least one optical fiber line and at least one conductive signal line, and wherein the second channel connects the container and the first channel;

an antenna disposed within the wireless communication system, a top portion of the container being substantially level with a top portion of the second ground surface, and the antenna communicatively coupled to at least one of the one or more second lines and to at least one of the one or more first lines, wherein the one or more second lines are communicatively coupled to the antenna via a signal conversion system disposed in the container which processes one or more signals from the at least one optical fiber line and at least one conductive signal line for wireless transmission by the antenna.

12. The communications system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communications system further comprises:

a pedestal disposed above the top portion of the container, wherein the antenna is disposed in the pedestal.

13. The communications system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communications system further comprises:

an antenna lid covering the top portion of the container, wherein the antenna is disposed in the antenna lid.

14. The communications system of claim 13, wherein the antenna lid comprises a plurality of lateral patch antennas.

15. The communications system of claim 11, wherein the container comprises one of a polymer concrete hand hole, a plastic hand hole, a concrete hand hole, or a plastic access box.

16. The communications system of claim 11, wherein the container comprises one of a fiber distribution hub or a network access point.

17. The communications system of claim 11, wherein the one or more first lines and the one or more second lines each comprise at least one conduit.

18. The communications system of claim 11, wherein the one or more first lines and the one or more second lines each comprise at least one optical fiber.

19. The communications system of claim 11, wherein the one or more first lines and the one or more second lines each comprise at least one conductive signal line.

20. The communications system of claim 11, wherein the one or more first lines and the one or more second lines each comprise at least one power line.