Method and apparatus for installation and alignment of radio devices

• US 10,630,341 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2017
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adriazola, Aldo, Bennett, Robert, Fuchs, Mitchell Harvey, Pimm, Brandon, Barzegar, Farhad, Henry, Paul Shala, Gerszberg, Irwin, Willis, III, Thomas M., Barnickel, Donald J., Roman, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US15/592,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20180331720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 343758, 343785, 343702, 455 7
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1228 on a boom
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/08 for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/067 using endfire radiating aerial units transverse to the plane of the array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/04 Control of transmission; Equalising
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/58 Repeater circuits

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a communication device with a group of radio devices connected with a support structure, where the support structure is positioned in and passes through housing openings in each radio device to provide a stacked arrangement. One or more radio device is rotatable with respect to the support structure to enable adjusting a first orientation of a directional antenna therein. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a support structure having a cylindrical shape and comprising an antenna;

a connection structure that physically connects the support structure with a utility structure; and

a first radio device secured to the support structure, wherein the first radio device has a first radio housing with a first housing opening therethrough, wherein the support structure is positioned in and passes through the first housing opening, wherein the first radio device comprises first radio components associated with transmitting first wireless signals, receiving the first wireless signals, or a combination thereof, and wherein the first radio device has a first coupling structure that enables coupling the first radio components to the antenna of the support structure.

2. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second radio device connected with the support structure, wherein the second radio device has a second radio housing with a second housing opening therethrough, wherein the support structure is positioned in and passes through the second housing opening, wherein the second radio device comprises second radio components associated with transmitting second wireless signals, receiving the second wireless signals, or a combination thereof, wherein the first wireless signals and the second wireless signals utilize different communication protocols, and wherein the first and second radio devices are positioned in a stacked arrangement.

3. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the second radio device comprises a directional antenna, and wherein the second radio housing is rotatable with respect to the support structure to enable adjusting of a direction of the directional antenna.

4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the second radio housing comprises an alignment hole selectively engageable by an alignment tool to enable manually rotating the second radio housing with respect to the support structure to enable adjusting of a direction of the directional antenna.

5. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the second radio housing comprises a rotation device that engages with the support structure to enable automatically rotating the second radio housing with respect to the support structure to enable adjusting of a direction of the directional antenna.

6. The communication device of claim 5, wherein the rotation device comprises a motor that engages with a gear of the support structure.

7. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the second radio device has a second coupling structure that enables coupling the second radio components to the first radio components of the first radio device.

8. The communication device of claim 7, wherein the second coupling structure comprises an annular contact ring formed on a top or bottom surface of the second radio housing.

9. The communication device of claim 2, further comprising:

a third radio device connected with the support structure, wherein the third radio device has a third radio housing with a third housing opening therethrough, wherein the support structure is positioned in and passes through the third housing opening, wherein the third radio device comprises third radio components associated with transmitting third wireless signals, receiving the third wireless signals, or a combination thereof, wherein the first, second and third wireless signals each utilize different communication protocols, and wherein the first, second and third radio devices are positioned in the stacked arrangement.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the third radio housing is rotatable with respect to the support structure to enable adjusting an orientation of the third radio housing independent of another orientation of the second radio housing.

11. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the antenna is an omni directional antenna, wherein annular contacts are formed on the support structure, wherein the connection structure includes a strut channel, wherein the transmitting of the first wireless signals induces electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of a transmission medium that propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium towards a receiver, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are representative of the first wireless signals.

12. A communication device comprising:

a support structure having a cylindrical shape;

a connection structure that connects the support structure with a utility structure; and

a group of radio devices connected with the support structure, wherein the group of radio devices have radio housings with housing openings therethrough, wherein the support structure is positioned in and passes through each of the housing openings thereby positioning the group of radio devices in a stacked arrangement, wherein the group of radio devices includes first and second radio devices, wherein a first radio housing of the first radio device is rotatable with respect to the support structure to enable adjusting a first orientation of the first radio housing independent of a second orientation of a second radio housing of the second radio device.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the first radio device comprises first radio components associated with transmitting first wireless signals, receiving the first wireless signals, or a combination thereof, wherein the second radio device comprises second radio components associated with transmitting second wireless signals, receiving the second wireless signals, or a combination thereof, and wherein the first wireless signals and the second wireless signals utilize different communication protocols.

14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the first radio device has a first coupling structure, wherein the first radio device has a second coupling structure, and wherein the first and second coupling structures enable coupling the first and second radio components.

15. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the support structure comprises an omni directional antenna, wherein the group of radio devices includes a third radio device having third radio components associated with transmitting third wireless signals, receiving the third wireless signals, or a combination thereof, and wherein the third radio device has a third coupling structure that enables coupling the third radio components to the omni directional antenna of the support structure.

16. The communication device of claim 12, further comprising a rotation system that enables automatically rotating at least one of the group of radio devices with respect to the support structure to enable adjusting an orientation of the at least one of the group of radio devices.

17. A communication device comprising:

a support structure having an elongated shape;

a connection structure that connects the support structure with a utility structure; and

a group of radio devices connected with the support structure, wherein the group of radio devices has radio housings with housing openings therethrough, wherein the support structure is positioned in and passes through each of the housing openings thereby positioning the group of radio devices in a stacked arrangement, wherein the group of radio devices includes first and second radio devices, wherein the first radio device comprises first radio components associated with transmitting first wireless signals, receiving the first wireless signals, or a combination thereof, wherein the second radio device comprises second radio components associated with transmitting second wireless signals, receiving the second wireless signals, or a combination thereof, wherein the first wireless signals and the second wireless signals utilize different communication protocols, wherein the first radio device has a first coupling structure, wherein the second radio device has a second coupling structure, and wherein the first and second coupling structures enable coupling the first and second radio components.

18. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the first and second coupling structures comprise annular contacts.

19. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the support structure has a cylindrical shape, and wherein a first radio housing of the first radio device is rotatable with respect to the support structure to enable adjusting a first orientation of the first radio housing independent of a second orientation of a second radio housing of the second radio device.

20. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the support structure comprises an omni directional antenna, wherein the group of radio devices includes a third radio device having third radio components associated with transmitting third wireless signals, receiving the third wireless signals, or a combination thereof, and wherein the third radio device has a third coupling structure that enables coupling the third radio components to the omni directional antenna of the support structure.