Communication device and antenna assembly with actuated gimbal mount

• US 9,882,277 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2015
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henry, Paul Shala, Bennett, Robert, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J, Kafka, Henry, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Tho G
• Application Number:
  US14/873,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20170098889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/16 for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/062 for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/00 Line transmission systems combined with near-field transmission systems H04B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an antenna assembly that includes a dielectric antenna having an integrated dielectric feedline and a dielectric antenna element. The integrated dielectric feedline communicates inbound guided waves and outbound guided waves that are bound to the integrated dielectric feedline. The dielectric antenna element transmits outbound free space wireless signals in response to the outbound guided waves and generates the inbound guided waves from received inbound free space wireless signals. An actuated gimbal mount controls an orientation of the dielectric antenna element based on control signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. An antenna assembly comprising:

a dielectric antenna having an integrated dielectric feedline configured to communicate guided waves that are bound to the integrated dielectric feedline, and a dielectric antenna element configured to communicate free space wireless signals in response to the guided waves; and

an actuated mount configured to control an orientation of the dielectric antenna element based on control signals, wherein the actuated mount includes a gimbal and wherein the gimbal, the dielectric antenna element and the integrated dielectric feedline are formed from a single piece of high density dielectric material.

2. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna has a composition devoid of conductive materials.

3. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna element has no external surfaces that are conductive.

4. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuated mount includes a first actuator that controls a yaw axis orientation of the dielectric antenna element.

5. The antenna assembly of claim 4, wherein the actuated mount includes a second actuator that controls a pitch axis orientation of the dielectric antenna element.

6. The antenna assembly of claim 5, wherein the first actuator includes a first motor and the second actuator includes a second motor.

7. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the guided waves are in at least one of:

a millimeter wave frequency band, or a microwave frequency band.

8. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna element has at least one of:

a horn structure, a cone structure or a pyramidal structure.

9. A communication device comprising:

a dielectric antenna having a dielectric feedline configured to communicate inbound guided waves and outbound guided waves that are bound to the dielectric feedline, and a dielectric antenna element configured to transmit outbound free space wireless signals in response to the outbound guided waves and further configured to generate the inbound guided waves from received inbound free space wireless signals;

a radio coupled to the dielectric feedline, the radio configured to;

receive inbound radio frequency (RF) signals in response to the inbound guided waves and to generate performance data in response thereto; and

generate outbound RF signals for transmission to the dielectric feedline as the outbound guided waves;

a conductorless guided wave cable having a dielectric core configured to communicate the inbound guided waves and the outbound guided waves between the radio and the dielectric feedline, wherein the inbound guided waves and the outbound guided waves are bound to the dielectric core, and wherein the conductorless guided wave cable comprises a foam element that at least partially surrounds the dielectric core and a weather resistant outer jacket; and

a controller configured to generate control signals in response to the performance data;

wherein the dielectric antenna includes an actuated mount configured to control an orientation of the dielectric antenna element based on the control signals.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the dielectric antenna has a composition devoid of conductive materials.

11. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the dielectric antenna element has no external surfaces that are conductive.

12. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the actuated mount includes a gimbal and wherein the gimbal and the dielectric antenna element are formed from a single piece of high density dielectric material.

13. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the actuated mount includes a first actuator that controls a yaw axis orientation of the dielectric antenna element, and a second actuator that controls a pitch axis orientation of the dielectric antenna element.

14. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the outbound guided waves and the inbound guided waves are in at least one of:

a millimeter wave frequency band, or a microwave frequency band.

15. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the dielectric antenna element has at least one of:

a horn structure, a cone structure or a pyramidal structure.

16. A method comprising:

communicating free space wireless signals with a remote station via a conductorless dielectric antenna having a dielectric antenna element and an integrated dielectric feedline;

receiving performance data indicating a performance of the communicating;

comparing the performance data to a performance threshold; and

when the performance data indicates the performance is below the performance threshold, generating control signals to adjust an orientation of the conductorless dielectric antenna via an actuated gimbal mount, wherein the actuated gimbal mount includes a gimbal and wherein the gimbal, the dielectric antenna element and the integrated dielectric feedline are formed from a single piece of high density dielectric material.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

coupling inbound guided waves and outbound guided waves between a radio and the integrated dielectric feedline of the conductorless dielectric antenna via a dielectric core of a guided wave cable.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the outbound guided waves and the inbound guided waves are in at least one of:

a millimeter wave frequency band, or a microwave frequency band.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

adjusting a yaw axis orientation of the conductorless dielectric antenna and a pitch axis orientation of the conductorless dielectric antenna via the actuated gimbal mount.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the dielectric antenna element has at least one of:

a horn structure, a cone structure or a pyramidal structure.