Communication device and antenna assembly with actuated gimbal mount
First Claim
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1. An antenna assembly comprising:
- a dielectric antenna having an integrated dielectric feedline configured to communicate guided waves that are guided by 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 dielectric antenna element and the integrated dielectric feedline are formed from a single piece of plastic material.
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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.
253 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An antenna assembly comprising:
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a dielectric antenna having an integrated dielectric feedline configured to communicate guided waves that are guided by 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 dielectric antenna element and the integrated dielectric feedline are formed from a single piece of plastic material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication device comprising:
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a dielectric antenna having a dielectric feedline configured to communicate inbound guided waves and outbound guided waves that are guided by 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 an outer jacket that surrounds the foam element and the dielectric core; 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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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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 dielectric antenna element and the integrated dielectric feedline are formed from a single piece of dielectric material. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification