Method of Providing an Antenna Mast and an Antenna Mast System

• US 20120206306A1
• Filed: 02/11/2011
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Häger, Peter, Röhl, Anders
• Granted Patent: US 8,970,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/721
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1242 Rigid masts specially adapted for supporting an aerial
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A method of providing an antenna mast for a wireless communication system is presented. The method comprises selecting a lower module and an upper module from a set of modules. This set of modules comprises at least two different lower modules, at least two different upper modules, or at least two different lower modules and at least two different upper modules. The method further comprises assembling the selected lower module and the selected upper module into a mast body of the antenna mast. This mast body forms a supporting structure for an antenna arrangement of the wireless communication system. In assembling the mast body, the method includes the antenna arrangement in the selected upper module and includes in at least one of the selected lower module and the selected upper module a device configured to perform a function other than supporting the antenna arrangement.

Claims

1. A method of providing an antenna mast for a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

selecting a lower module and an upper module from a set of modules comprising at least two different lower modules, at least two different upper modules, or at least two different lower modules and at least two different upper modules, and

assembling the selected lower module and the selected upper module into a mast body of the antenna mast that forms a supporting structure for an antenna arrangement of the wireless communication system, including the antenna arrangement in the selected upper module and including in at least one of the selected lower module and the selected upper module a device configured to perform a function other than supporting the antenna arrangement.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the function is a function other than a function directly related to the wireless communication system.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said assembling comprises arranging the lower module substantially below the upper module in the assembled mast body.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising manufacturing the lower modules and the upper modules of the set to form at least part of an outer surface of an assembled mast body.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising manufacturing lower modules to form a supporting structure that supports at least the weight of an upper module and devices included in that upper module.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said assembling comprises arranging the device substantially within the outer surface of the assembled mast body.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said assembling comprises assembling the mast body to have a height between 3 and 8 metres.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said assembling comprises including different devices in the assembled mast body based on the particular modules selected from the set of modules.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said assembling comprises including a processor and at least one of a transmitter and a receiver of the wireless communication system inside at least one of the selected lower and upper modules.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said assembling comprises including the device in the selected lower module of the assembled mast body.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising selecting the device from a plurality of different devices, including a bench, a roof arrangement, a waste bin, a vending machine, an electronic screen, a parking meter, a traffic light, a lighting arrangement, a card-reading device, an electric power socket, and a life-saving device.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said assembling comprises including the device in the selected upper module of the assembled mast body.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising selecting the device from a plurality of different devices, including a sign, a lighting arrangement, a clock, a roof arrangement, a traffic light, and an electronic screen.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of modules further comprises at least two different middle modules, wherein said selecting further comprises selecting a middle module from the set of modules, and wherein said assembling comprises assembling the selected middle module together with the selected lower and upper modules to form the assembled mast body.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said assembling comprises arranging the selected middle module substantially between the selected lower module and the selected upper module.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said assembling comprises including the device in the selected middle module.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising selecting the device from a plurality of different devices, including a traffic light, an electronic screen, a roof arrangement, and a lighting arrangement.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein a lower module is configured to form a supporting structure that supports the weight of a middle module, an upper module, and devices included in the middle and upper modules.

19. A modular antenna mast system comprising a set of modules, including lower modules and upper modules, wherein at least two of the lower modules, at least two of the upper modules, or both are different from one another, wherein different pairs of lower and upper modules are configured to assemble together into differently configured mast bodies of antenna masts for a wireless communication system, wherein each mast body forms a supporting structure for an antenna arrangement of the wireless communication system, has an upper module configured to include the antenna arrangement, and has either an upper module, a lower module, or both configured to include a device that performs a function other than supporting the antenna arrangement.

20. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 19, wherein said function is a function other than a function directly related to the wireless communication system.

21. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 19, wherein a lower module is configured to assemble into a mast body at a position substantially below that of a paired upper module.

22. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 19, wherein a lower module and an upper module are configured to form at least part of an outer surface of an assembled mast body.

23. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 19, wherein a lower module is configured to form a supporting structure that supports at least the weight of an upper module and devices included in that upper module.

24. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 23, wherein an assembled mast body is configured to house the device that performs said function substantially within an outer surface of that assembled mast body.

25. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 19, wherein at least some of said antenna masts are configured to have a height between 3 and 8 metres.

26. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 19, wherein the differently configured mast bodies include different devices for performing said function.

27. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the differently configured mast bodies is configured to house therein a processor and at least one of a transmitter and a receiver of the wireless communication system.

28. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 19, wherein at least one lower module in the set of modules is configured to include said device.

29. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 28, wherein the device comprises a bench, a roof arrangement, a waste bin, a vending machine, an electronic screen, a parking meter, a traffic light, a lighting arrangement, a card-reading device, an electric power socket, or a life-saving device.

30. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 19, wherein at least one upper module in the set of modules is configured to include the device.

31. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 30, wherein the device comprises a sign, a lighting arrangement, a clock, a roof arrangement, a traffic light, or an electronic screen.

32. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 19, wherein the set of modules further comprises at least two different middle modules, and wherein at least one of the differently configured mast bodies comprises a middle module assembled together with a pair of lower and upper modules.

33. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 32, wherein a middle module is positioned substantially between a lower module and an upper module of an assembled mast body.

34. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 32, wherein at least one middle module in the set of modules is configured to include said device.

35. The modular antenna mast system according to claim 32, wherein the device comprises a traffic light, an electronic screen, a roof arrangement, or a lighting arrangement.