Systems and methods of antenna orientation in a point-to-point wireless network

• US 9,467,219 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aviat U.S., Inc. (Aviat Networks Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Aviat U.S., Inc. (Aviat Networks Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vilhar, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc M
• Application Number:
  US14/462,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20140357210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/25, 455/446, 455/562.1, 455/226.1, 455/226.4, 455/289
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/10 Radiation diagrams of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 17/001 for modifying the directional characteristic of an aerial
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/12 of transmit antennas, e.g. of the amplitude or phase
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0882 using post-detection diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering

Abstract

An exemplary method comprises positioning a first antenna to receive a first signal from a second antenna, the second antenna comprising energy absorbing material that functions to expand beamwidth, receiving the first signal from the second antenna, detecting a plurality of gains based on the first signal, repositioning the first antenna relative to the second antenna to a position associated with an acceptable gain based on the first signal, removing at least some of the energy absorbing material from the second antenna to narrow the beamwidth of the second antenna, receiving, by the first antenna, a second signal from the second antenna, detecting a plurality of gains based on the second signal, and repositioning the first antenna relative to the second antenna to a position associated with an increased gain of the plurality of gains based on the second signal, the increased gain being greater than the acceptable gain.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

positioning a first parabolic antenna to a first position relative to a second parabolic antenna to receive a signal from the second parabolic antenna, the first position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a first antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna, the second parabolic antenna comprising;

a first diaphragm coupled to a rim of the second parabolic antenna, the first diaphragm comprising a first energy absorbing material configured to modify a beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to a first beamwidth value; and

a second diaphragm coupled to the rim of the second parabolic antenna, the second diaphragm comprising a second energy absorbing material configured to modify the beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to a second beamwidth value less than the first beamwidth value;

moving the first parabolic antenna relative to the first position, while using a meter coupled to the first parabolic antenna to measure a signal characteristic of the signal;

repositioning the first parabolic antenna to a second position relative to the second parabolic antenna after detecting an acceptable threshold in the signal characteristic of the signal, the second position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a second antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna;

removing the first diaphragm to expose the second diaphragm and to modify the beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to the second beamwidth value;

moving the first parabolic antenna relative to the second position, after the first diaphragm has been removed, while using the meter to measure the signal characteristic of the signal from the second parabolic antenna; and

repositioning the first parabolic antenna to a third position relative to the second parabolic antenna after detecting an improvement in the signal characteristic of the narrowed signal over the acceptable threshold, the third position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a third antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna, and the third position of the first parabolic antenna causing improved communication with the second parabolic antenna relative to the second position of the first parabolic antenna.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal characteristic includes signal gain.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring an antenna mount to reposition the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna based on a maximum or minimum signal characteristic of the narrowed signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy absorbing material narrows an aperture of the second parabolic antenna to broaden the beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm is adhered to the rim of the second parabolic antenna.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy absorbing material is adhered to a reflector of the second parabolic antenna.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reflector comprises a parabolic reflector.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal characteristic comprises one of a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and a Received Signal Level of the signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the meter comprises a voltmeter configured to measure a voltage associated with a signal characteristic of an Outdoor Unit (ODU) coupled to the first parabolic antenna.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first parabolic antenna and the second parabolic antenna are used in a microwave antenna communications system comprising a point-to-point transmission system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy absorbing material is not the same as the second energy absorbing material.

12. A first parabolic antenna configured to be:

positioned to a first position relative to a second parabolic antenna to receive a signal from the second parabolic antenna, the first position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a first antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna, the second parabolic antenna comprising;

a first diaphragm coupled to a rim of the second parabolic antenna, the first diaphragm comprising a first energy absorbing material configured to modify a beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to a first beamwidth value; and

a second diaphragm coupled to the rim of the second parabolic antenna, the second diaphragm comprising a second energy absorbing material configured to modify the beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to a second beamwidth value less than the first beamwidth value;

moved relative to the first position, while using a meter coupled to the first parabolic antenna to measure a signal characteristic of the signal;

repositioned to a second position relative to the second parabolic antenna after detecting an acceptable threshold in the signal characteristic of the signal, the second position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a second antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna;

moved relative to the second position, after the first diaphragm has been removed, while using the meter to measure the signal characteristic of the signal from the second parabolic antenna; and

repositioned to a third position relative to the second parabolic antenna after detecting an improvement in the signal characteristic of the narrowed signal over the acceptable threshold, the third position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a third antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna, and the third position of the first parabolic antenna causing improved communication with the second parabolic antenna relative to the second position of the first parabolic antenna.

13. The first parabolic antenna of claim 12, wherein the signal characteristic includes signal gain.

14. The first parabolic antenna of claim 12, wherein the first parabolic antenna is configured to be repositioned relative to the second parabolic antenna based on a maximum or minimum signal characteristic of the narrowed signal.

15. The first parabolic antenna of claim 12, wherein the first energy absorbing material narrows an aperture of the second parabolic antenna to broaden the beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna.

16. The first parabolic antenna of claim 12, wherein one or more of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm is adhered to the rim of the second parabolic antenna.

17. The first parabolic antenna of claim 12, wherein the first energy absorbing material is adhered to a reflector of the second parabolic antenna.

18. The first parabolic antenna of claim 17, wherein the reflector comprises a parabolic reflector.

19. The first parabolic antenna of claim 12, wherein the signal characteristic comprises one of a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and a Received Signal Level of the signal.

20. The first parabolic antenna of claim 12, wherein the meter comprises a voltmeter configured to measure a voltage associated with a signal characteristic of an Outdoor Unit (ODU) coupled to the first parabolic antenna.

21. The first parabolic antenna of claim 20, wherein the first parabolic antenna and the second parabolic antenna are used in a microwave antenna communications system comprising a point-to-point transmission system.

22. The first parabolic antenna of claim 12, wherein the first energy absorbing material is not the same as the second energy absorbing material.

23. A method comprising:

positioning a first parabolic antenna to a first position relative to a second parabolic antenna to receive a signal from the second parabolic antenna, the first position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a first antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna, the second parabolic antenna comprising;

a first diaphragm coupled to a rim of the second parabolic antenna, the first diaphragm comprising a first energy absorbing material configured to modify a beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to a first beamwidth value; and

a second diaphragm coupled to the rim of the second parabolic antenna, the second diaphragm comprising a second energy absorbing material configured to modify the beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to a second beamwidth value less than the first beamwidth value;

moving the first parabolic antenna relative to the first position, while using a meter coupled to the first parabolic antenna to measure a signal characteristic of the signal;

repositioning the first parabolic antenna to a second position relative to the second parabolic antenna after detecting an acceptable threshold in the signal characteristic of the signal, the second position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a second antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna;

removing at least some of the energy absorbing material from the second parabolic antenna to narrow the beamwidth of the signal;

removing the first diaphragm to expose the second diaphragm and to modify the beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to the second beamwidth value;

moving the first parabolic antenna relative to the second position after the first diaphragm has been removed, while using the meter to measure the signal characteristic of the signal from the second parabolic antenna; and

repositioning the first parabolic antenna to a third position relative to the second parabolic antenna after detecting an improvement in the signal characteristic of the narrowed signal over the acceptable threshold, the third position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a third antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna, and the third position of the first parabolic antenna causing improved communication with the second parabolic antenna relative to the second position of the first parabolic antenna.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first energy absorbing material is not the same as the second energy absorbing material.