WO2025180729A1

WO2025180729A1 - Small cell base station integrated with storefront sign

Info

Publication number: WO2025180729A1
Application number: PCT/EP2025/051764
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ali MIRZA; Dipen RAI; Steven Bell; Steven Lock; Richard C. KERRY; Steven ZANFT; Peggy BARKER
Original assignee: Commscope Design and Integration UK Ltd
Current assignee: Commscope Design and Integration UK Ltd
Priority date: 2024-02-27
Filing date: 2025-01-24
Publication date: 2025-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-27

Abstract

An assembly includes: (a) a housing comprising a floor, a ceiling, a rear wall, a front wall, and opposed side walls that define a cavity, wherein the side walls include illuminable informational markings; (b) first and second flat panel antennas; (c) a first mounting plate residing in the cavity, wherein the first and second antennas are mounted on opposite sides of the first mounting plate; (d) a radio residing in the cavity of the housing and connected with the first and second antennas; and (e) a power source attached to the radio; wherein the power source is employed to illuminate the informational markings.

Description

SMALL CELL BASE STATION INTEGRATED WITH STOREFRONT SIGN

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/558,298, filed February 27, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in full.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to cellular communications systems, including distributed antenna systems, communications systems that include small cell radio base stations, and communication systems that include macro cell radio base stations.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Cellular communications systems are well known in the art. In a typical cellular communications system, a geographic area may be divided into a series of regions that are referred to as "cells," and each cell is served by a base station. Typically, a cell may serve users who are within a distance of, for example, 2-20 kilometers from the base station, although smaller cells are typically used in urban areas to increase capacity. The base station may include baseband equipment, radios and antennas that are configured to provide two-way radio frequency ("RF") communications with mobile subscribers that are positioned throughout the cell. In many cases, the cell may be divided into a plurality of "sectors," and separate antennas may provide coverage to each of the sectors. The antennas are often mounted on a tower or other raised structure, with the radiation beam ("antenna beam") that is generated by each antenna directed outwardly to serve a respective sector. Typically, a base station antenna includes one or more phase-controlled arrays of radiating elements, with the radiating elements arranged in one or more vertical columns when the antenna is mounted for use. Herein, "vertical" refers to a direction that is perpendicular relative to the plane defined by the horizon.

[0004] In order to increase capacity, cellular operators have, in recent years, been deploying so-called "small cell" cellular base stations. A small cell base station refers to a low- power base station that may operate in the licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum that has a much smaller range than a typical "macrocell" base station. A small cell base station may be designed to serve users who are within short distances from the small cell base station (e.g., tens or hundreds of meters). Small cells may be used, for example, to provide cellular coverage to high traffic areas within a macrocell, which allows the macrocell base station to offload much or all of the traffic in the vicinity of the small cell to the small cell base station. Small cells may be particularly effective in Long Term Evolution ("LTE"), 5G (both C-Band and millimeter wave spectrum) and CBRS cellular networks in efficiently using the available frequency spectrum to maximize network capacity at a reasonable cost. Small cell base stations typically employ an antenna that provides full 360 degree, bi-directional or even directional coverage in the azimuth plane and a suitable beamwidth in the elevation plane to cover the designed area of the small cell. In many cases, the small cell antenna will be designed to have a small downtilt (electrical or mechanical) in the elevation plane to reduce spill-over of the antenna beam of the small cell antenna into regions that are outside the small cell and also for reducing interference between the small cell and the overlaid macro cell.

[0005] FIG. l is a schematic diagram of a conventional small cell base station 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the base station 10 includes an antenna 20 that may be mounted on a raised structure 30. The antenna 20 may have an omnidirectional or directional antenna pattern in the azimuth plane, meaning that the antenna beam(s) generated by the antenna 20 may extend through a full 360 degree circle in the azimuth plane, or targeted in the desired direction for optimum cell planning.

[0006] As is further shown in FIG. 1, the small cell base station 10 also includes base station equipment such as baseband units 40 and radios 42. A single baseband unit 40 and a single radio 42 are shown in FIG. 1 to simplify the drawing. Additionally, while the radio 42 is shown as being co-located with the baseband equipment 40 at the bottom of the antenna tower 30, it will be appreciated that in other cases the radio 42 may be a remote radio head that is mounted on the antenna tower 30 adjacent the antenna 20. The baseband unit 40 may receive data from another source such as, for example, a backhaul network (not shown) and may process this data and provide a data stream to the radio 42. It will be appreciated that in other cases the baseband unit 40 may be placed off-site and housed in a central location for better resources utilization and optimize RF kit on site. The radio 42 may generate RF signals that include the data encoded therein and may amplify and deliver these RF signals to the antenna 20 for transmission via a cabling connection 44. The base station 10 of FIG. 1 will typically include various other equipment (not shown) such as, for example, a power supply, back-up batteries, a power bus and the like.

[0007] It may be desirable to provide small cell antennas in different environments that capitalize on the presence of current structures.

SUMMARY

[0008] As one aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to an assembly comprising:

(a) a housing comprising a floor, a ceiling, a rear wall, a front wall, and opposed side walls that define a cavity, wherein the side walls include illuminable informational markings;

(b) first and second flat panel antennas;

(c) a first mounting plate residing in the cavity, wherein the first and second antennas are mounted on opposite sides of the first mounting plate;

(d) a radio residing in the cavity of the housing and connected with the first and second antennas; and

(e) a power source attached to the radio.

The power source is employed to illuminate the informational markings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0009] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating a conventional small cell cellular base station.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an advertising banner attached to a storefront sign.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a small cell base station with illuminated advertising panels, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of the small cell base station of FIG. 3.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a side view as in FIG. 4 with the side wall removed to show the interior of the small cell base station.

[0014] FIG. 6 is an opposite side view from FIG. 5 with the opposite side wall removed. [0015] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the small cell base station of FIG. 3. [0016] FIG. 8 is a top view of the small cell base station of FIG. 3.

[0017] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the small cell base station of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Aspects of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated embodiments; rather, these embodiments are intended to fully and completely convey to those skilled in this art how to make and use the teachings of the present disclosure. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Thicknesses and dimensions of some elements may not be to scale.

[0019] Spatially relative terms, such as "under", "below", "lower", "over", "upper", "top", "bottom" and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of devices described herein in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "under" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "over" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "under" can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0020] Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity. As used herein the expression "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0021] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0022] Referring now to the figures, FIG. 2 illustrates a storefront sign 45 with an advertising banner 50 that extends therefrom. The advertising banner 50 is typically mounted on streetside storefronts such as banks, restaurants, retails shops, and the like, and can be used for advertising for either the business itself or another outlet (e.g., another business, a non-profit organization, a school, etc.) The advertising banner 50 is typically illuminated, and therefore is supplied with electrical power, and often is serviced with fiber optic cable as well.

[0023] U.S. Patent No. 11,909,111 to Colapietro, hereby incorporated herein by reference in full, describes an assembly in which an advertising banner such as that shown at 50 in FIG. 2 is employed as a small cell base station. The arrangement includes one or more radios, one or more antennas, and other equipment that is necessary or helpful in operating the small cell base station. Panels on the side walls of the housing that contains these components may be illuminated to provide advertising or other information.

[0024] FIGS. 3-9 illustrate an improved version of the device described in the aforementioned patent. Referring first to FIGS. 3 and 4, the small cell base station 100 includes a housing 102 that includes side walls 103, 104, a rear wall 105, a front wall 106, a floor 107 and a ceiling 108. Typically, the housing 102 has dimensions of approximately 800 mm x 800 mm x 270 mm, but other dimensions may also be suitable (e.g., one embodiment may measure 807 mm x 805 mm x 272 mm). The side walls 103, 104 are attached via hinges to the rear wall 105, such that each can pivot about a vertical axis to permit a technician to easily access the interior of the housing 102.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, typically at least the side walls 103, 104 include informational markings that constitute advertising or other informational messaging; these markings are on display when the assembly 100 is mounted on a storefront or other location. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the side walls 103, 104 includes an integrated LED panel 103 a, 104a that fills much of the area of the side walls 103, 104. In some embodiments, the integrated LED panels 103a, 104a include a plastic panel and a diffuser in addition to the LED. Such an arrangement can help to render the lighting quality more uniform. Also, the ide walls 103, 104 can feature an LED screen instead of information markings for dynamic material too.

[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, upper and lower mounting plates 120, 122 are mounted within the housing 102 for the mounting of small cell antenna components. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower mounting plate 122 serves as a mounting foundation for two panel antennas 130, 132. The antennas 130, 132 are mounting on opposite sides of the lower mounting plate 122, thereby providing antenna coverage to a sidewalk or walkway that is routed beneath the small cell base station 100. Exemplary antennas include the W-65T-F-V3, SS-65T-F and SSP-65T-F antennas, available from CommScope, Inc (Hickory, North Carolina). An RRU 140 is mounted on the upper mounting plate 120 above the antenna 130 (see FIG. 5). The RRU 140 is connected to the antennas 130, 132 via conventional cables (not shown). Exemplary RRUs 140 include Model Nos. 6507 and 6339, available from Ericsson, Inc.

[0027] The upper and lower mounting plates 120, 122 on both sides of the storefront sign 45 are arranged to allow flexibility to meet desired combination of RRUs, baseband units and antennas of different sizes and formfactors to suit. For example, the RRU 140 can be mounted on the lower mounting plate 122 with the antenna 130 moved to the upper mounting plate 120 as needed. The antenna mounting arrangement allows a small range of horizontal (azimuth) and downtilt adjustment for optimized coverage pattern. In some embodiments, the upper mounting plates 120 may be offset from side-to-side from the lower mounting plates 122.

[0028] In addition, in some embodiments an integrated radio-antenna unit 144 may be mounted on the upper mounting plate 120 (see FIG. 5). Such a unit includes the components for transmission and reception that the combined RRU 140 and antennas 130, 132 provide. The storefront sign 45 may be vendor-agnostic regarding integrated radio-antenna and therefore may be capable of supporting the radio-antenna units of most OEMs.

[0029] Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, additional components may be mounted on the upper and lower mounting plates 120, 122. Exemplary components include a power converter 150, a splice box 152, and an IP-rated AC distribution board assembly 154 (which may include a circuit breaker, an LED driver, a twilight sensor and/or a thermostat).

[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 3, 6 and 8, a GPS antenna 160 may be mounted on the ceiling 108 external to the housing 102. Components 162 related to the GPS antenna 160 may be mounted on the upper mounting plate 120 (see FIG. 6).

[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the small cell base station 100 also includes a cooling fan 170, which is mounted in the rear wall 105 (see FIGS. 5 and 8). The fan 170 draws air through inlet holes 172 in the floor 107 (see FIG. 7), against a baffle 173 mounted above the inlet holes 172, toward a baffle 174 mounted adjacent the front wall 106 (see FIG. 5), through the fan 170, and out of exhaust holes 176 in a shroud 178 located at the rear of the unit (see FIG. 8). A high capacity 175 mm diameter fan may be employed, and may be powered by either -48V DC or 230 AC current.

[0032] FIG. 9 also illustrates that the rear wall 105 includes ports 182 for fiber and power connections. [0033] The small cell base station 100 may be mounted to a storefront or other wall via wall mounting brackets 180 (see FIGS. 3 and 9), which extend rearwar dly from the rear wall 105. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting brackets 180 are configured so that the small cell base station 100 may be mounted perpendicularly to a wall (such as a storefront sign). In some embodiments, much or all of the cooling fan 170 may reside between the mounting brackets 180 rearward of the rear wall 105.

[0034] In some embodiments, the mounting brackets may be configured so that the small cell base station 100 can be mounted on a pole. In other embodiments, the mounting brackets may be configured so that the small cell base station 100 can be mounted on a storefront to be parallel with the storefront wall.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 7, the floor 107 may include a window (covered with cover plate 186 in FIG. 10) that can enable the connection of a WiFi antenna (not shown). Also, the floor 107 may include a sensor 188 configured to detect light; the LED panels 103a, 104a may be connected to the light sensor 188 to determine the illumination level and to drive (on/off) function during day and night time for the LED panels 103a, 104a.

[0036] It will be understood based on the foregoing that the assembly discussed above is able to function as a small cell base station as well as an advertising banner. It will be understood that the small cell base station 100 may also include other telecommunications equipment (e.g., processors, backhaul components, cables, batteries, and the like) that can facilitate the transmission and/or reception of signals.

[0037] Different alternative arrangements for equipment and cooling are discussed with respect to electronics cabinets in U.S. Patent No. 11,909,111, supra.

[0038] In some embodiments, the materials of the housing 102 may be selected for compatibility with RF transmission, such as RF transparent materials. Moreover, the materials may be selected to eliminate or reduce PIM as described above. Such materials include non- metallic materials such as polymeric materials.

[0039] Further, in some embodiments one or more walls of the housing 102 may be formed of “tunable” dielectric materials. Such materials can be modified to be transparent to certain RF frequencies. In some embodiments, one or more walls of the housing 102 may be formed of different tunable materials, wherein each radio 140 operates at a different frequency that is matched to the “tuned” frequency of one of the walls of the housing 102. [0040] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is Claimed is:

1. An assembly, comprising:

(b) first and second flat panel antennas;

(e) a power source attached to the radio; wherein the power source is employed to illuminate the informational markings.

2. The assembly defined in Claim 1, further comprising an optical signal source attached to the radio.

3. The assembly defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the housing is mounted to a storefront.

4. The assembly defined in Claim 3, wherein the housing is mounted to an illuminated sign of the storefront.

5. The assembly defined in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the housing is mounted substantially perpendicularly to the storefront.

6. The assembly defined in any of Claims 1-5, wherein the housing has dimensions of approximately 80 cm x 80 cm x 27 cm.

7. The assembly defined in any of Claims 1-6, wherein the side walls comprise integrated LED panels to provide the informational markings.

8. The assembly defined in any one of the preceding Claims, further comprising a fan mounted on the rear wall.

9. The assembly defined in Claim 8, wherein the floor is perforated.

10. The assembly defined in Claim 8 or Claim 9, further comprising a baffle mounted adjacent the front wall.

11. The assembly defined in any one of the preceding Claims, further comprising an integrated radio-antenna unit.

12. The assembly defined in Claim 11, further comprising a second mounting plate that is positioned in the cavity above the first mounting plate, and wherein the radio and the integrated radio-antenna unit are mounted on the second mounting plate.

13. The assembly defined in any one of the preceding Claims, further comprising a GPS antenna mounted on the ceiling.

14. The assembly defined in any one of the preceding Claims, further comprising an illumination sensor on the floor.

15. The assembly defined in Claim 8, wherein the fan resides at least partially rearwardly of the rear wall.