Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – Spiral or helical type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-04-17
Ho, Tan (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
Spiral or helical type
C343S702000, C343S905000, C343S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219007
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an antenna assembly for transmitting rf, radio frequency, signals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Broadband rf services, in the form of audio signals, video signals and Internet access communications signals, for example, are distributed over broadband communications cables to numerous subscribers of such services. Electronic devices, in the form of signal amplifiers and cable line extenders, are distributed along the transmission cables to amplify the signals, and to maintain a balanced load. Typically, the transmission cables are elevated above ground by poles, with the devices being at the poles, and being mounted on the transmission cables or hanging parallel to the cables. The signals of these amplifiers and extenders are in need of periodic adjustment, for example, to transmit the signals over longer distances, to supply the signals to an increased number of subscribers, and to maintain a balanced load distribution of the signals among multiple subscribers. In the past, these devices needed direct physical contact with them to have their signals adjusted, which required a person to be lifted to each device on a pole, that person to make the adjustment while being elevated above ground, and that person to be lowered and transported to a device at another location, where the process was repeated. The process of lifting, adjusting and lowering, involved expensive lifting equipment and a concern to ensure personal safety. The time required to conduct the process was lengthy.
With advances in wireless communications technology being applied to improve the amplifier and extender devices, they are now provided with known transceivers and are adjustable by communicating with a portable, wireless communications device. Such a wireless communications device has known electronic transceivers that communicate remotely with the amplifiers and line extenders, and eliminates the need for direct physical contact with them. The risk of personal safety is reduced substantially, and further, the time required to conduct the process is substantially reduced. A portable, wireless communications device, for adjusting amplifiers and line extenders of a broadband transmission cable, requires an antenna assembly that is properly tuned to a frequency band of the communications signal being transmitted between the wireless communications device and the amplifiers and line extenders. The antenna assembly must be light in weight, and sealed from the elements of weather.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention resides in an antenna assembly that is tuned to a frequency band of a signal of a wireless communications device for adjusting the signals of amplifiers and line extenders of a broadband communications cable. The invention resides further in an antenna assembly that is sealed from the elements of weather.
According to the invention, an antenna assembly that is tuned to a frequency band of a signal of a wireless communications device for adjusting the signals of amplifiers and line extenders of a broadband communications cable, has; a helical antenna coil connected in one end of a conducting sleeve, a length of coaxial cable has a central conductor connected in another end of the sleeve, the cable having a dielectric concentrically surrounding the central conductor, the cable having an outer conducting shield concentrically surrounding the dielectric, the sleeve having a force fit connection in an axial bore through a nonconducting housing, the coil projecting outward of the housing and being enclosed by an insulating hollow radome that is mounted to the housing, the housing being adapted for connection to an exterior panel of a portable, wireless communications device for adjusting signals of amplifiers and line extenders of a broadband communication cable, wherein, a threaded shaft on the housing projects from a panel facing surface of the housing, the threaded shaft receives a threaded nut thereon, a seal surrounds the shaft and is received against the panel facing surface to form a seal therewith, and the cable projects from the bore through the housing for connection of the antenna assembly to a location behind the exterior panel of the portable, communications device for adjusting the signals of the amplifiers and line extenders.
Further, according to the invention, a sealing material surrounds the sleeve where the sleeve is force fit with the bore through the housing to form a seal with the sleeve and the housing.
Further, according to another aspect of the invention, the radome surrounds the housing with a resilient snap fit on the housing to form a seal therewith.
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Gherardini Stephen Daniel
Kline Richard Scott
Alemu Ephrem
Ho Tan
The Whitaker Corporation
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