Concealed antenna assembly

• US 6,788,256 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hollister, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US10/251,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/878, 343/890, 343/892
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/049 Edge illuminated signs, boards or panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/05 indicating exit way or orientation
• 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: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

A concealed antenna assembly includes a base aligned with and attached to a ceiling, a planar sign having a transparent front and back face and an interior surface, a planar antenna concealed within the planar sign, and a light source for illuminating the sign. The sign is disposed substantially perpendicular to and beneath the base. The interior surface of the sign defines a channel extending within the sign in which a planar microstrip antenna is concealed. The antenna has a front and back face and a radio frequency connection point. The front or back face of the antenna has lettering visible through the front or back face of the sign. A surface area of the front or back face of the antenna is equal to or less than a surface area of the front or back face of the sign.

Claims

1. An indoor RF network located within a building including at least one concealed antenna assembly comprising:

a base;

a sign having two planar pieces of substantially the same shape and size disposed substantially parallel to each other, the two planar pieces disposed substantially perpendicular to the base, the two planar pieces each having a front and back face; and

an antenna concealed between the two planar pieces, the antenna having a front and back face and a radio frequency connection point, wherein the concealed antenna assembly provides communications to at least one wireless device located within the building.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a light source for illuminating the sign.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base is aligned with and attached to a ceiling.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a directional patch antenna.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two planar pieces is not optically opaque.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the front or back face of the antenna has lettering visible through at least one of the planar pieces.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the two planar pieces are opaque and have lettering thereby concealing the antenna.

8. An indoor RF network located within a building including at least one concealed antenna assembly comprising:

a base;

a planar sign having front and back face and an interior surface, the sign disposed substantially perpendicular to the base, the interior surface defining a channel extending within the sign; and

an antenna concealed in the channel, the antenna having a front and back face and a radio frequency connection point, wherein the concealed antenna assembly provides communications to at least one wireless device located within the building.

9. The assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a light source for illuminating the sign.

10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the base is aligned with and attached to a ceiling.

11. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the antenna is a directional patch antenna.

12. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the front or back face of the sign is not optically opaque.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the front or back face of the antenna has lettering visible through the front or back face of the sign.

14. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the front and back face of the sign are opaque and have lettering thereby concealing the antenna.

15. An indoor RF network located within a building including at least one concealed antenna assembly comprising:

a base;

a planar sign having a front and back face, the planar sign disposed substantially perpendicular to the base; and

an antenna having a front and back face and a radio frequency connection point, the antenna concealed by the front face of the sign such that the front face of the antenna is adjacent to the back face of the sign, wherein the concealed antenna assembly provides communications to at least one wireless device located within the building.

16. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

a light source for illuminating the sign.

17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the base is aligned with and attached to a ceiling.

18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the antenna is a directional patch antenna.

19. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the antenna is not optically opaque.

20. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the planar sign is not optically opaque and the antenna has lettering on its front or back face.