IES20000857A2

IES20000857A2 - Cellular base station antenna unit

Info

Publication number: IES20000857A2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Thomas Murtagh
Original assignee: Eircell 2000 Plc
Priority date: 2000-10-25
Filing date: 2000-10-25
Publication date: 2001-12-12
Also published as: GB0125499D0; GB2368468A

Abstract

A low power cellular base station antenna unit is provided which is adapted to be mounted on a pre-existing telegraph pole (1,5) or street lamp standard (16) comprising an antenna (2,6,7,8,9,15) disguised by or forming part of a pre-existing functional element projecting from or mounted on the pole. The said element may for example comprise; - a pole weather cap (6), in which the antenna forms part of the top of the pole structure to deflect rain in the manner of a traditional weather cap, or - a pole step (7), in which the antenna is preferably adapted as a shark fin shape projecting from the side of the pole to serve a dual function as one of the pole steps near the top of the pole, or - a false cable junction box (8), mounted on the pole in which the antenna unit is contained within and designed to resemble a junction box or hinged cover for a cable junction box, or - a pole cross arm with insulatorsss (2), in which an antenna unit is mounted under said arm or replacing said arm, or - a false drop wire distribution loop (9), in which an antenna unit would be disguised as a false loop of wire attached to the pole, or - an arm (15) projecting from the pole to support a street lamp, in which the antenna forms a part of or is disguised by the said arm. The antenna unit is supplied by an overhead composite optic fibre and low voltage D.C. cable (11), preferably of 6 mm. to 8 mm. diameter. <Figure 2>

Description

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a low power cellular base station antenna unit adapted to be mounted on a pre-existing telegraph pole or street lamp standard comprising an antenna disguised by or forming part of a preexisting functional element projecting from or mounted on the pole.

The said element may comprise a pole weather cap, in which the antenna forms part of the top of the pole structure to deflect rain in the manner of a traditional weather cap.

The said element may comprise a pole step, in which the antenna is preferably adapted as a shark fin shape projecting from the side of the pole to serve a dual function as one of the pole steps near the top of the pole.

The said element may comprise a false cable junction box, mounted on the pole in which the antenna unit is contained within and designed to resemble a junction box or hinged cover for a cable junction box.

The said element may comprise a pole cross arm with insulators, in which an antenna unit is mounted under said arm or replacing said arm.

The said element may comprise a false drop wire distribution loop, in which an antenna unit would be disguised as a false loop of wire attached to the pole.

The said element may comprise an arm projecting from the pole to support a street lamp, in which the antenna forms a part of or is disguised by the said arm.

Preferably the antenna unit is supplied by a composite low voltage optic fibre cable, most preferably of 6mm. to 8mm. diameter.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the invention embodied in a traditional wooden telegraph pole, Figure 2 shows the invention embodied in a traditional wooden pole for electricity cables or telephone land line cables, and Figure 3 shows the invention embodied in a traditional lamp standard with a steel arm mounted on a wooden pole.

In Figure 1, a traditional telegraph pole 1, of a type that is nearly obsolete, has a cross arm 2 carrying copper wire insulators 3. In accordance with the invention, the cross arm 2 is adapted as an antenna unit, and an optical to rf unit is disguised in a junction box 4.

Figure 2 shows a wooden pole 5 in which the antenna unit may be formed by a weather cap 6 at the top of the pole, or a step 7 projecting from the side of the pole which may still be used for maintenance purposes, or disguised within a junction box 8 or as a false drop wire loop 9. The normal drop wires 10 which may be electricity IE000857 cables or telephone land lines are still carried by the pole, in addition to a composite cable drop wire 11 comprising an optic fibre and DC power line which conduct a signal and DC power to a receiver unit which may comprise a DP unit 12 and an optic fibre to rf unit 13. A rf on/off switch 14 is also included for isolating the units during maintenance work.

The composite optic fibre and low voltage cable 11 which acts as a supply to a transmit and receive antenna in one embodiment is of 6mm. to 8mm. diameter. This is a very small diameter in comparison to the prior art, and is similar to conventional 2/4 pair overhead copper drop wires 10 still in widespread use as carried by traditional telegraph poles. Such small diameter cabling is relatively unobtrusive, and blends in well with existing overhead streetside cabling. Micro base station equipment (not shown) may be located up to 200m. away from the antenna unit 6,7,8,9 and associated pole mounted units 12,13, for example on the side wall of an adjacent building, or at ground level. Thus the relatively large and unsightly base station housing does not require to be pole mounted, and may be located further from the antenna unit than in the prior art.

Alternatively, larger diameter coaxial or solid dielectric cable of 1/2” or 7/8” may be carried overhead or emerge from underground ducts to supply the antenna units described above. However, this will not have the same overall degree of low visual impact as the composite optic fibre arrangement described above.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the antenna unit is disguised within a steel arm 15 or lamp standard bracket projecting from a timber pole 16, or such that the arm itself is adapted as a dual function antenna and lamp support. The optical to rf unit would be mounted on the side of the pole near the top to resemble a junction box, in the manner described above.

The present invention will have many advantages and will eliminate the need for many new tall and unsightly mast structures in urban areas and on hill tops which would otherwise have to be erected to expand mobile telephone networks in response to ever increasing demand for mobile telecommunications services. It makes use of an existing infrastructure of poles which are mainly on roadside locations, where higher power masts are often located. The antenna units will be located in a safe place out of reach of access to the general public. Importantly, mobile telephone operators can proceed to expand their networks quickly without the delay and difficulty caused by planning permission issues which can likely be avoided, on account of the unobtrusive nature of the transmitter and receiver units. Furthermore, if additional poles require to be erected to expand the network, traditional wooden and timber structures may be used offering a good environmental solution.

It is important to note that the present invention provides a dual function cellular base station where cable and/or wireless (e.g. radio frequency) telecommunication with the base station is accommodated, which is in line with current trends in telecommunications.

Claims

1. A low power cellular base station antenna unit adapted to be mounted on a preexisting telegraph pole (1,5) or street lamp standard (16) comprising an antenna (2,6,7,8,9,15) disguised by or forming part of a pre-existing functional element projecting from or mounted on the pole.

2. A cellular base station antenna unit according to claim 1, wherein the said element may comprise - a pole weather cap (6), in which the antenna forms part of the top of the pole structure to deflect rain in the manner of a traditional weather cap, or - a pole step (7), in which the antenna is preferably adapted as a shark fin shape projecting from the side of the pole to serve a dual function as one of the pole steps near the top of the pole, or - a false cable junction box (8), mounted on the pole in which the antenna unit is contained within and designed to resemble a junction box or hinged cover for a cable junction box, or - a pole cross arm with insulators (2), in which an antenna unit is mounted under said arm or replacing said arm, or - a false drop wire distribution loop (9), in which an antenna unit would be disguised as a false loop of wire attached to the pole, or - an arm (15) projecting from the pole to support a street lamp, in which the antenna forms a part of or is disguised by the said arm.

3. A cellular base station antenna unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the antenna is supplied by an optic fibre, coaxial, dielectric or copper wire cable either carried overhead to the pole or from an underground duct up along the pole to the antenna unit.

4. A cellular base station antenna unit according to claim 3, wherein the antenna unit is supplied by a composite optic fibre and low voltage cable (11), preferably of 6mm. to 8mm. diameter.

5. A cellular base station antenna unit according to any one of the preceding claims, substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.