Antenna alignment device and methods for aligning antennas

• US 10,530,051 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2017
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Z Telecom, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Dalmazzo, Enzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Dieu Hien T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jegede, Bamidele A
• Application Number:
  US15/422,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20170149129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation

Abstract

An antenna alignment device includes a handheld enclosure comprising a high-precision GPS receiver, high-precision GPS antennas spaced apart along an enclosure heading, a display, a camera having a central axis aligned with the heading, and a user interface. A circuit board connects these components and has a processor programmed to determine an azimuth of the heading with the receiver and antennas based upon received GPS signals, to show a view of the camera on the display, to depict crosshairs at a display centerpoint superimposed on the view, to receive a target coordinate from a user through the user interface, to calculate a distance between the target coordinate and the heading and, if the distance is short enough to be contained within the view, to superimpose a bullseye upon the display at the target coordinate, and to dynamically move the bullseye on the display as the user moves the enclosure.

Claims

1. An antenna alignment device, comprising:

a handheld enclosure comprising;

a top portion comprising a single radome having a plurality of domes; and

a bottom portion, the top portion and the bottom portion being attached to form a single structure having therein;

at least one high-precision global positioning system (GPS) receiver;

a plurality of high-precision GPS antennas covered by the single radome and a respective dome of the plurality of domes, connected to the at least one high-precision GPS receiver, and spaced apart from one another along a line that defines an enclosure heading;

a display exposed to the environment on a surface of the structure and having a centerpoint;

a camera having a central axis aligned with the enclosure heading and, when operating, electronically outputting a view;

a user interface; and

an interconnect circuit board communicatively connected to the at least one high-precision GPS receiver, the plurality of high-precision GPS antennas, the display, the camera, and the user interface; and

wherein the circuit board has a processor programmed;

to determine an azimuth of the enclosure heading accurate at least to within approximately ¾

of a degree with the at least one high-precision GPS receiver and the plurality of high-precision GPS antennas based upon received GPS signals;

to show the view of the camera on the display;

to depict a crosshairs at the centerpoint of the display superimposed on the view being shown on the display to indicate to a user a location toward which the enclosure is pointing;

to receive a target coordinate from a user through the user interface;

to calculate a distance between the target coordinate and the enclosure heading and, if the distance is short enough to be contained within the view, to superimpose a bullseye upon the display at the target coordinate; and

to dynamically move the bullseye on the display as the user moves the enclosure.

2. The antenna alignment device according to claim 1, wherein:

the display is a touchscreen; and

the user interface comprises;

an on/off device at the enclosure; and

software-generated objects on the touchscreen and at least some user input is carried out through the touchscreen of the display.

3. The antenna alignment device according to claim 1, further comprising a second display on a computing device separate from the enclosure and communicatively connected to the processor, and the computing device being selected from a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a desktop computer, and an Internet connection.

4. The antenna alignment device according to claim 3, wherein the user interface comprises:

an on/off device at the enclosure; and

software-generated objects on the display and at least some user input is carried out through selecting the objects the display.

5. The antenna alignment device according to claim 3, wherein:

the second display is a touchscreen; and

the user interface comprises;

an on/off device at the enclosure; and

the software-generated objects on the second display and at least some user input is carried out through selecting the objects the second display.

6. The antenna alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to generate an electronic copy of the view when selected by the user.

7. The antenna alignment device according to claim 6, wherein the processor is programmed to generate a report based the electronic copy of the view to certify that no intermediate building or foliage blocks line-of-sight.

8. The antenna alignment device of claim 1, further comprising a shielded chamber within the enclosure in which is secured the display.

9. The antenna alignment device of claim 1, further comprising an attachment mechanism shaped to fix the enclosure to a structure and keep the antenna alignment device from falling.

10. The antenna alignment device of claim 1, wherein the enclosure further comprises:

a memory slot;

a universal serial bus (USB) port connected to the interconnect circuit board;

a battery connected to the interconnect circuit board; and

a battery charging port connected to the interconnect circuit board.

11. The antenna alignment device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of domes have a shape that improves RF reception between approximately 10% and approximately 20% and the improvement in RF reception decreases a calculation time for measurements by the processor.

12. An antenna alignment device, comprising:

a handheld enclosure comprising;

at least one high-precision global positioning system (GPS) receiver;

a plurality of high-precision GPS antennas connected to the at least one high-precision GPS receiver and spaced apart from one another along a line that defines an enclosure heading;

a display having a centerpoint;

a camera having a central axis aligned with the enclosure heading and, when operating, electronically outputting a view;

a user interface; and

an interconnect circuit board communicatively connected to the at least one high-precision GPS receiver, the plurality of high-precision GPS antennas, the display, the camera, and the user interface; and

wherein the circuit board has a processor programmed;

to determine an azimuth of the enclosure heading with the at least one high-precision GPS receiver and the plurality of high-precision GPS antennas based upon received GPS signals;

to show the view of the camera on the display;

to depict a crosshairs at the centerpoint of the display superimposed on the view being shown on the display to indicate to a user a location toward which the enclosure is pointing;

to receive a target coordinate from a user through the user interface;

to calculate a distance between the target coordinate and the enclosure heading and, if the distance is short enough to be contained within the view, to superimpose a bullseye upon the display at the target coordinate; and

to dynamically move the bullseye on the display as the user moves the enclosure.

13. The antenna alignment device according to claim 12, wherein the display is attached to the enclosure and is exposed to the environment on a surface of the enclosure.

14. The antenna alignment device according to claim 13, wherein:

the display is a touchscreen; and

the user interface comprises;

an on/off device at the enclosure; and

software-generated objects on the touchscreen and at least some user input is carried out through the touchscreen of the display.

15. The antenna alignment device according to claim 12, wherein the display is on a computing device separate from the enclosure and communicatively connected to the processor, and the computing device is selected from a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a desktop computer, and an Internet connection.

16. The antenna alignment device according to claim 15, wherein the user interface comprises:

an on/off device at the enclosure; and

software-generated objects on the display and at least some user input is carried out through selecting the objects the display.

17. The antenna alignment device according to claim 15, wherein:

the display is a touchscreen; and

the user interface comprises;

an on/off device at the enclosure; and

the software-generated objects on the display and at least some user input is carried out through selecting the objects the display.

18. The antenna alignment device according to claim 12, wherein the processor is programmed to determine an azimuth of the enclosure heading accurate at least to within approximately of a degree with the at least one high-precision GPS receiver and the plurality of high-precision GPS antennas based upon the received GPS signals.

19. The antenna alignment device according to claim 12, wherein the processor is programmed to generate an electronic copy of the view when selected by the user and generate a report based the electronic copy of the view to certify that no intermediate building or foliage blocks line-of-sight.