GB2417833A

GB2417833A - Antenna cover

Info

Publication number: GB2417833A
Application number: GB0419800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Paul Rees
Original assignee: EUROP SATELLITES Ltd
Current assignee: EUROP SATELLITES Ltd
Priority date: 2004-09-07
Filing date: 2004-09-07
Publication date: 2006-03-08
Also published as: GB0419800D0

Abstract

An antenna cover comprises a visual shield 16 attachable around an antenna 12 which is transparent to the operational frequencies of the antenna and visually blends with its surroundings 10. The cover may be formed by polymeric sheet material which may be assembled in-situ. The sheet material may have a surface painted, printed, dyed or coated such that its colour, shape and texture will resemble that of its surroundings. The cover may resemble an adjunct to a building or one or more complete storeys of a building 10. The cover may include anchor components for sliding releasable attachment to a building or ground. The cover is intended to ameliorate or remove the visual impact of an erected antenna.

Description

241 7833 Antenna Cover

Background

The present invention relates to installation and erection of radio antennae on or near buildings. The invention particularly relates to means for covering such antennae.

Modern radio communications is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Television and radio signals, once solely transmitted from terrestrial transmitters, are now provided from satellites, usually in geo-stationery orbit about the earth. Internet signals and date communications are similarly provided. Mobile telephones require base station and relay masts, connected to the terrestrial telephone system by wire or by microwave link, at frequent intervals throughout the terrain to maintain communication with mobile telephone handsets.

Prior Art

Such use requires the provision of prominent antennae on or close to buildings. Satellite signals usually require use of parabolic reflector antennae or directional phase equalising arrays (so called "Squarials" TM) , all of which are large and visually prominent. Good quality communications requires the use of high gain antennae, which, inevitably, have large areas. Mobile telephone antennae are usually mounted on a pole, and the pole can comprise utilities from more than one cellular telephone service provider, including transmitters, receivers and power supplies. Mobile telephone base station antennae are visually very prominent.

It is a widely held view that radio antennae are visually obtrusive, aesthetically undesirable and should be avoided if at all possible. It is thought that many buildings have their aesthetic properties severely impaired by the presence of antennae. The situation is bad enough on new buildings were antennae are at least contemporaneous, but is much worse on old and historic buildings, where the appearance of antennae is not only undesirable, but totally and appropriately out of period. None the less, modem pressure for modem communications means that antennae will be desired and erected.

The present invention seeks to provide means whereby the visual impact of erected antennae is ameliorated or removed all together.

Antennae are nearly always erected in environmentally exposed positions. Each antenna is exposed to varying wind loading, corrosion and precipitation, all of which shorten the life of the antenna and require frequent maintenance. The present invention seeks to provide means whereby environmental factors are reduced or removed from each antenna. Further, antennae comprise many sensitive electrical and electronic components.

In satellite television reception dishes, a low noise box (LNB) is provided at or near the focus of the dish reflector. The low noise box comprises amplifiers and frequency changers whose correct function is vital to the quality of the received signal. In cellular telephone installations, receivers, transmitters, antenna switches, microwave links and power supplies all require properly and continuously to function. Correct function is compromised by environmental stress. The present invention seeks to provide improved reliability of electronic and electrical elements in installed antennae.

Environmental housings for protection of antennae are known. One popular solution is to provide a large, spherical, and usually white coloured so called radome about a high gain antenna. Such a solution is disastrous where an antenna is visually undesirable because the radome makes the antenna even more prominent, rather than concealing the antenna. The present invention seeks to provide means for protecting an antenna while lessening the visual impact of the antenna.

Often, whether or not an antenna can be installed depends upon the approval of planning authorities. Such authorities exist at a national, city, county and neighbourhood level. The visual atmosphere and nature of a locality can be so changed by installation of an antenna that permission is refused and access to a radio borne service is denied the applicant. The present invention seeks to provide means whereby the granting of permission to install an antenna is rendered more likely.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cover for an antenna comprising means visually to shield the antenna, said means visually to shield the antenna being attachable around the antenna; said means visually to shield the antenna being substantially transparent to radiation on the frequency at which the antenna operates; and said means visually to shield the antenna comprising a surface visually adapted to blend with the immediate surroundings of the antenna.

The invention preferably provides that, when the antenna is mounted onto a building, the surface, visually adapted to blend with the immediate surroundings of the antenna, can be painted, printed, dyed, permanently coloured or have a surface coating applied thereto to match the immediate surroundings of the antenna, can have markings applied thereto consistent with the markings in the immediate surroundings of the antenna, and can be shaped and textured so as to resemble a portion of the building.

The invention also preferably provides that, when the antenna is mounted in the vicinity of a building, the surface, visually adapted to blend with the immediate surroundings of the antenna, can be painted, printed, dyed, permanently coloured or have a surface coating applied thereto, can have markings applied thereto, and can be shaped and textured so as to resemble an object appropriate and suitable for that location.

The invention preferably provides that, when the antenna is mounted atop a building, the surface, visually adapted to blend with the immediate surroundings of the antenna, can be painted, printed, dyed, permanently coloured or have a surface coating applied thereto, can have markings applied thereto and can be shaped and textured so as to resemble an adjunct to the building.

The invention preferably also provides that, when the antenna is mounted atop a building, the surface, visually adapted to blend with the immediate surroundings of the antenna, can be painted, printed, dyed, permanently coloured or have a surface coating applied thereto, can have markings applied thereto, and can be shaped and textured so as to resemble one or more further storeys of the building.

The invention preferably further provides that the means, visually to shield the antenna, can also be operative environmentally to shield the antenna.

The invention preferably provides that the means, visually to shield the antenna, can comprise a polymeric material, that the polymeric material can be environmentally stable, that the polymeric material can comprise glass re-enforced plastic (GRP), that the GRP can be retentive of surface coatings, paint, dye and markings, and that any surface coating, paint, dye, self colouring, applied coat or surface treatment can also be environmentally stable and transparent to radiation at the antenna operating frequency.

The invention further preferably provides that: the means, visually to shield the antenna, can comprise metal or plastics anchor components for attaching the means, visually to shield the antenna, to the side of or atop a building; that the means, visually to shield the antenna, can comprise metal or plastics reinforcements to add to the strength, rigidity and attachability of the means, visually to shield the antenna; and that the means, visually to shield the antenna, can be co-operative with metal or plastics attachments to the building or ground to provide slideably releasable attachment.

The invention is further explained, by way of exemplary embodiments, by the following description, together with the appended drawings, in which:

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention in which a large roof mounted antenna is covered by a visual shield which is made to look like one or more storeys of the building; Figure 2 shows the visual shield of Figure 1 mounted on top of the building, the visual shield being show as if transparent to reveal the antenna there beneath; Figure 3 shows the overall effect of the visual shield of Figure 2 disguising the antenna completely; Figure 4 shows a normal domestic dwelling where parabolic dish antennae are mounted upon the roof and walls and also shows second and third embodiments of visual shields ready to be installed over the parabolic antennae; Figure 5 shows the normal domestic dwelling of Figure 4 with the second and third embodiment visual shield installed; Figure 6A shows a building with a moderately sized parabolic dish antenna on the roof thereof, and a fourth embodiment of a visual shield ready to be installed and looking like an adjunct to the building, and Figure 6B shows the fourth embodiment of the visual shield installed on the building; Figure 7 shows an example of an antenna mounted near a building, and a fifth embodiment of a visual shield to be installed over the antenna in the form of an object appropriate to that location, in this instance, a garden hut; Figure 8 the fifth embodiment visual shield of Figure 7 installed; Figure 9 shows how a vertical style antenna, such as might be used for cellular telephone provision, can be housed and protected within a spire-like sixth embodiment visual shield; Figure 10A shows how a metal or plastics fixing surround can be used to attach a visual, shield to the side of or to the top of a building, Figure 10B shows how the visual shield can comprise strengthening members, and figure 10C shows how clips, attached to a building, can be used to removably attach a visual shield to a building; and Figure 11 shows various means for adapting the appearance of a visual shield.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Attention is first drawn to Figure 1, which shows a first embodiment of the invention in which a large roof mounted antenna is covered by a visual shield which is made to look like one or more storeys of the building. Such situations occur with television and news gathering organizations, where high quality satellite uploading and downloading of material is required. A good example can be seen at the Shepherds Bush building of the BBC in London.

In this example, a building 10 has a large communications antenna 12 mounted on the roof 14 thereof. A first embodiment visual shield 16 is shown above the roof 14 of the building ready to cover the large communications antenna 12 as indicated by arrow 18.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 2, showing the first embodiment visual shield 16 in place on the roof 14 of the building 10, with the first embodiment visual shield 16 shown as if it were transparent to allow view of the large communications antenna 12 concealed there beneath. In this instance, the first embodiment visual shield 16 is of a size and form to resemble an additional two storeys for the building 10. The horizontal dimensions of the first embodiment visual shield 16 matches the horizontal dimensions of the building 10 and the number of apparent storeys provides a sufficient height of the first embodiment visual shield to more than cover the large communications antenna 12.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 3 which shows the overall effect of the first embodiment visual shield 16 of Figure 2 disguising the large communications antenna 12 completely. The first embodiment visual shield 16 comprises a glass reinforce plastic (GRP) structural skin which is coloured, textured and marked so that the exterior surface 20 of the first embodiment visual shield 16 matches the colour, texture and markings of the building 10, and is formed in a style identical to or sympathetic with the style of the building. The large communications antenna 12 is thus rendered effectively invisible.

The manner of colouring, marking and applying texture are later described with reference to Figure 11.

The first embodiment visual shield 16 is anchored to the roof 12 of the building 10 in a manner later described with reference to Figure 10A and 10B and is strengthened to have more rigidity as later described with reference to Figure 10B.

In this example, the first embodiment visual shield 16 is shown as providing an apparent seamless extension to the building 10. It is to be appreciated that the first embodiment visual shield 16 can cover less than the entire area of the roof 14 of the building 10, and need not exactly match the walls of the building 10. All that is required is that the first embodiment visual shield should look like an upwardly extending additional part of the building 10. Also, the colouring, marking and texturing need not exactly match those of the building 10, but merely require to be sympathetic with or complementary to the colour, marking and texture of the building as if a deliberate addition to the architecture of the building 10.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 4, which shows a normal domestic dwelling where parabolic dish antennae are mounted upon the roof and walls and also shows second and third embodiments of visual shields ready to be installed over the parabolic antennae.

A domestic dwelling 22 has a wall mounted dish antenna 24 mounted on a wall 26 thereof and a roof mounted dish antenna 28 on a roof 30 thereof. A second embodiment visual shield 32 is provided to be installed as indicated by arrow 34 over the roof mounted dish antenna 28 and a third embodiment visual shield 36 is provided to be installed as indicated by arrow 38 over the wall 24 mounted dish antenna 28.

The second embodiment visual shield 32, since it is to be installed exclusively among the tiles 40 of the domestic dwelling roof 42, is shaped on a lower side 46 to match the pitch 44 of the domestic dwelling roof 42, and is coloured, textured and marked to resemble the tiles 40 of the domestic dwelling roof 42.

The third embodiment visual shield 36, since it must match (in this instance) in part the tiles 40 of the domestic dwelling roof 42 and in part the bricks 46 in the wall 26, is coloured, marked and textured in a lower portion 48 to match the bricks 46 in the wall 26 and is coloured, textured and marked in a second portion 50 to match the tiles 40 in the domestic dwelling roof 42.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 5, which shows the normal domestic dwelling 22 of Figure 4 with the second embodiment visual shield 32 and the third embodiment visual shield 36 installed. The second embodiment visual shield 32 effectively caused the roof mounted dish antenna 28 to disappear, while still remaining functional. The third embodiment visual shield 36 effectively caused the wall mounted dish antenna 24 to disappear, while still remaining functional. The upper portion 50 of the third embodiment visual shield 36 abuts with and matches the tiles 40. The lower portion 48 of the third embodiment visual shield 36 abuts with and matches the bricks 46 in the wall.

The third embodiment visual shield 36 illustrates that the invention encompasses treating different portions 48 50 of a single visual shield 36 so that the visual shield 36 matches or compliments those elements with which the visual shield 36 will abut or with which the visual shield will be in visual comparison when the visual shield 36 is installed.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 6A which shows, for example, an office building 52 with a moderately sized parabolic dish antenna 54 on the roof thereof, perhaps used for data communication. Figure 6A also shows a fourth embodiment visual shield 56 ready to be installed as indicated by arrow 58 and looking like an adjunct to the office building 52. The office building 52 comprises a roof structure 60 which can be, for example, the top of a lift shaft or the housing for ventilation and air conditioning equipment. The roof structure 60 is an adjunct to the office building 52 and the fourth embodiment visual shield 56 is constructed, coloured, marked and textured to resemble the roof structure 60.

Figure 6B shows the fourth embodiment visual shield 56 installed on the roof 62 of the office building 52 to cover the moderately sized parabolic dish antenna 54. The installed fourth embodiment visual shield 56 closely resembles the roof structure 60 and so conceals the moderately sized parabolic dish antenna 54 while providing an unremarkable addition to the roof line of the office building 52.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 7, which shows an example of a ground mounted dish antenna 64 mounted near a utilising building 66, and a fifth embodiment visual shield 68 to be installed over the ground mounted dish antenna 64 as indicated by arrow 69. This is typical of some broadcasting installations (for example, Sky TV in London) and is most common for high gain steered satellite television reception antennae provided near a house in its back yard to obtain a wide variety of different sources of television programmed. This is the situation shown in this example. The fifth embodiment visual shield 68 is provided in the form of an object appropriate to that location, in this instance, a garden hut, which does not evoke notice in a domestic back yard and provides visual cover and environmental protection for the ground mounted dish antenna 64, as shown in Figure 8.

In this instance the fifth embodiment visual shield 68 is provided with markings appropriate to the walls and roof, doors and windows of a garden hut, and is appropriately coloured and textured. Other abject could equally have been chosen, a non-limiting list of examples including garages, green houses and conservatories. For larger ground mounted dish antennas 64, other structures up to apparent several storey buildings can be used.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 9, which shows how a vertical style antenna 70, such as might be used for cellular telephone provision, can be housed and protected within a spire-like sixth embodiment visual shield 72.

An antenna array 74 is affixed near the top of a mounting pole 76 held on a base 78 which could be the top of a building or the ground. In the example shown, guy wires 80 are provided between the base 78 and the mounting pole 76 to hold and stabilise the mounting pole 76. The sixth embodiment visual shield 72 is also mounted on the base 78 and protects and disguises the antenna array 74, the mounting pole 76 and the guy wires 80, but also protects transceiver equipment 82 and power supplies 84 used in conjunction with the antenna array 74.

The sixth embodiment visual shield 72is provided in the general form of a spire which can be of any cross section e.g. round, elliptical, triangular, and any form or regular and irregular polygon or other shape. The spire can be used as an enhancing decoration of churches, public buildings, historic buildings and the like. The sixth embodiment visual shield 72 can be made any size, and general shape and can have any colour, texture and markings that are considered beneficial to the appearance of the surroundings. The sixth embodiment visual shield 72 can house free standing antennae, such as would be provided on lattice towers. The sixth embodiment visual shield 72 can be used to add support to the housed antenna by allowing the antenna to be affixed to or lean against the inside of the sixth embodiment visual shield 72.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 10A which shows how a metal or plastics fixing surround can be used to attach a visual, shield to the side of or to the top of a building.

A generic visual shield 86, representative of all of the visual shields herein before discussed, is shown in broken outline. The generic visual shield 86 comprises a holding flange 88 around at least part of its periphery which is to come into contact with the ground or with a building. The holding flange 88 is overlain by an anchor component 90 which can be clamped to the building or the ground by screw fixings passing through holes 92 through the anchor component and the generic visual shield 86 if it lies immediately there behind. The anchor component 90 clamps the generic visual shield 86 to the ground or building. The anchor component 90 can be provided in one or more parts, and, in the simples form, can be one or more simple washers provided around the holes 92 to clamp the generic visual shield 86 to the ground or building or ground with screw or other fixings.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 10B, which shows how the generic visual shield 86 of Figure 10A can comprise strengthening members 94 which are provided within the generic visual shield 86. The strengthening members can be metal or strong plastics.

The strengthening members 94 are preferably provided in such positions within the generic visual shield so as not to disturb the sensitivity or directivity of the enclosed antenna. The strengthening members 94 can be held to the inside of the generic visual shield 86 by attachments 96. The strengthening members 94 can be held by screw fixings beneath the anchor component, or can provide a replacement for the anchoring component by providing means for direct attachment of the strengthening members to the ground or building.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 10C, which shows how clips 98, attached to a building, can be used easily to attach a generic visual shield 86 to a building and to easily detach the generic visual shield 86 from the building. The clip 98 has a vertical portion 100 which stands clear of the building providing a separation 102 from the building. The generic visual shield 86 comprises a tongue 104 a little narrower than the separation 102 and designed to sit next to the building. A groove 106, designed to take the vertical portion 100 of the clip 98, is provided adjacent to the tongue 104. The generic visual shield 86 can be lowered onto the clip 98 as indicated by arrow 108 to be held in place by gravity. The generic visual shield 86 can be removed from attachment to the building by lifting from the clip 98 as indicated by arrow 110. By positioning clips 98 around the periphery of the generic visual shield 86, the generic visual shield may be firmly held on and easily release from the building.

Attention is finally drawn to Figure 11, which shows various means for adapting the appearance of a generic visual shield 86.

The generic visual shield 86 is here shown in cutaway as a pre-formed structure. The generic visual shield 86 can be moulded by any means known in the art to provide a pre-formed structure. Alternatively, the generic visual shield 86 can be provided in flat pack form for possible cutting and construction in situ.

The generic visual shield 86 can come ready coloured, marked and textured for common applications, by printing, dying, moulding, and incorporation of pigment or use, for example, with any of the standard British brick and tile sizes and colours. The generic visual shield 86 can be selfcoloured. For not so common applications, the generic visual shield 86 can have paint 112 applied thereto, either by spray (as shown) or by brush, the colour of the paint 112 being selectable from a range of colours reflecting the true colours of stone, bricks, tiles and other aged and un-aged building materials.

In an alternative embodiment the shield may be adapted to resemble an air conditioning plant, heating installation (such as a boiler house) or an elevator shaft housing, thereby further blending into the background with the type of structures usually found on roofs or roof tops. In one particularly preferred embodiment slatted or louvered sheets of material may be used thus camouflaging the antenna cover so that it resembles an air intake/outlet of a ventilation or heating system.

Textures can be applied by the generic visual shield 86 being coated with glue 114 and particulate material 116 in the form of ground rock and/or concrete of selectable size being affixed to the generic visual shield 86. The particulate material 116 can come in bags, as indicated, and can match the type of material used in the building, or can merely match its texture, in which case later application of suitable paint 112 will be required. Equally, textures can be pre-applied by pre-moulding of the generic visual shield 86.

A first means of applying markings is to apply paint through one or more stencils. Here a first stencil 118 provides markings for the vertical spacing between bricks and a second stencil 120 provides markings for the horizontal spacing between bricks. Other patterns are possible for tiles, stone blocks, etc without limit. Marking can also be applied by preprinting with inks and dyes.

A second means for applying markings is to apply a pre-patterned roll 122 to the generic visual shield 86. The example shown is for bricks. Other patterns are possible without limit. If the pre-patterned roll 122 is transparent, paint 112 can be applied to the opposite side thereof. The pre-patterned roll can come ready-coloured.

If the generic visual shield 86 is sufficiently thin and translucent, paint 112 and/or markings 118 120 122 can be applied on the inside surface to provide additional protection to the paint 112 and markings 118 120 122.

The present invention also comprises any one, some or all of the features, herein before described, used alone or in any combination thereof.

Claims

Claims 1. An antenna cover comprising: means visually to shield the

antenna, said means visually to shield the antenna being attachable around the antenna; said means visually to shield the antenna being substantially transparent to radiation on the frequency at which the antenna operates; and said means visually to shield the antenna comprising a surface visually adapted to blend with the immediate surroundings of the antenna.
2. An antenna cover according to claim 1 wherein said means visually to shield the antenna has a surface, visually adapted to blend with the immediate surroundings of the antenna, said surface being painted, printed, dyed, permanently coloured or have a surface coating applied thereto. .
3. An antenna cover according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said means visually to shield the antenna has a surface, that is shaped and textured so as to resemble a portion of the building. :.
4. An antenna cover according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the antenna is mounted in .

the vicinity and is shaped and textured so as to resemble an adjunct to the e e.

building.
5. An antenna cover according to claim 4 wherein the cover is shaped and textured so as to resemble one or more further storeys of the building.
6. An antenna cover according to any preceding claim wherein the antenna comprises a plurality of sheets adapted to be assembled in-situ.
7. An antenna cover according to any preceding claim comprises a polymeric material, that is transparent to radiation at the antenna operating frequency.
8. An antenna cover according to any preceding claim comprises anchor components for attaching the cover to the building or ground to provide slideably releasable attachment.
9. An antenna cover substantially as herein described with reference to the Figures. . ë ë * . A. ë . . . ë e. e..