PANEL ANTENNA HAVING SEALED RADIO ENCLOSURE

• US 20110032158A1
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Procomm International Pte. Ltd. (Transpacific IP Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: RODGER, Derek, FERRIS, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,497,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/02 Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out ; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/10 using reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/06 Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/12 Parallel arrangements of substantially straight elongated conductive units travelling-wave antennas comprising transmission line loaded with transverse elements H01Q11/02; Yagi antennas H01Q19/30
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

A panel antenna having an enclosure, an internal cover, one or more micro radios and RF modules, and a radome is provided. The enclosure may include a rectangular rear panel, side walls with an interior surface to mount micro radios and an external surface to receive heat sinks, and a hinged front cover providing an internal cover. The internal cover may also have a plurality of RF radiating modules fastened thereto. The internal cover may also provide environmental sealing and electromagnetic shielding. The plurality of micro radios are located inside the cavity of the enclosure, and each micro radio is coupled to an RF radiating module. The micro radios may be mounted inside the enclosure on the side walls. The radome encloses the RF radiating modules. The radome may be mounted to the internal seal. Additionally, the panel antenna may further include a heat sink mounted on an exterior side of the rear panel. The heat sink on the rear panel may dissipate heat from additional active electronics, such as a communications hub or calibration radio. The micro radios and active electronics may be mounted such that the heat sinks dissipate heat generated by the micro radios.

Claims

1. A panel antenna, comprising:

an enclosure, the enclosure including a rear panel, a first side wall, and a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, the rear panel and the walls defining a cavity, the walls further defining an aperture through which the cavity of the enclosure may be accessed

an internal cover, the internal cover being dimensioned to overlap an area defined by the aperture of the enclosure and providing an environmental seal and electromagnetic shielding for the cavity, the internal cover having at least one RF radiating module fastened to an exterior surface thereof,

at least one micro radio mounted to an internal surface of the first side wall, the micro radio being coupled to the RF radiating module;

a first heat sink, mounted to an external surface of the first side wall, and

a radome, the radome mounting to the internal cover and enclosing the RF radiating module.

2. The panel antenna of claim 1, wherein the panel antenna further comprises:

a second micro radio, the second micro radio mounted to an internal surface of the second side wall, a plurality of RF radiating modules, a second heat sink mounted on an exterior surface of the second side wall.

3. The panel antenna of claim 2, wherein each RF radiating element is dual polarized and is associated with two micro radios.

4. The panel antenna of claim 1, further comprising a communications hub coupled to each micro radio.

5. The panel antenna of claim 4, further comprising a calibration radio.

6. The panel antenna of claim 5, wherein the communications hub and calibration radio are mounted on an interior surface of the rear panel, and a third heat sink is mounted on an exterior surface of the rear panel.

7. The panel antenna of claim 1, wherein a flange joins the first and second side walls and the top and bottom wall, further defining the aperture through which the cavity of the enclosure may be accessed.

8. The panel antenna of claim 1, wherein a flange joins the first and second side walls and the top and bottom wall, and a lip extends from the flange, further defining the aperture through which the cavity of the enclosure may be accessed, the lip being engaged by the internal cover to provide the environmental seal.