Abstract:
A directional alignment and alignment monitoring sensor system that is designed to be mounted to a directional or omni-directional antenna wherein the system includes a sensor having one or more phototransistors that are associated with one or more baffle members and wherein each baffle member defines a restrictive light passageway toward a phototransistor such the by measuring the time that a phototransistor is illuminated, a correct orientation of the antenna may be accurately determined.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/880,028 in the name of the same inventors. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to directional alignment and alignment monitoring systems for directional and planar pattern omni-directional antennas. 
   2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
   Alignment of directional antennas is important in a competitive industry with customers expecting uninterrupted cell phone and other communications. See the reference paper “Impact of Mechanical Antenna Downtilt on Performance of WCDMA Cellular Network” also the paper “Impacts of Antenna Azimuth and Tilt Installation Accuracy on UMTS Network Performance” by Bechtel Corp, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   Several types of metrology equipment are currently used to align directional antennas. These include standard construction tools such as levels and transits. By way of example, by locating a person at a distance from an antenna at a known heading, the antenna may be sited using a compass, GPS, survey, laser or transit or other optical means. Such methods require a technician or team of technicians to climb to the antenna, which is normally mounted at an elevated location, usually on a tower, and actively align and measure the antenna position directly, with their hands on the antenna. No devices are currently known that remotely monitor antenna alignment after installation or verify exact alignment during or after installation. 
   Hands-on alignment is a significant cost to owners of directional and omni-directional antennas and accurate information is crucial when relating to overall RF system design. Currently, there is no all-inclusive method to double check tower crew measurements. Each time a storm hits an area or a period of time passed dictates a need to re-verify alignment, a crew of technicians must climb to the antenna and physically check alignment of the antenna. The measurements are complex and made in a difficult environment high above the ground. If a mistake is made, there is no way to verify the alignment directly. Only by a study of antenna power distribution made by checking the area the antenna is servicing with radio test equipment and comparing the signal strength to a master can proper alignment be determined and this is a costly and time consuming process. Also, this method is indirect, as other factors besides alignment may affect signal strength. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is directed to a directional alignment and alignment monitoring system for directional or omni-directional antennas based on solar position alone or in combination with electronic level sensing. Additionally, this invention can be configured to monitor antenna alignment relative to a fixed artificial light source. The invention includes sensors that mount to the antennas to be aligned plus a central data collection and processing unit. The system may be permanently mounted to an antenna and monitors its position frequently, ensuring long term alignment and making it possible for the owner of the antenna to check the antenna alignment and the history of that alignment on an “on going” basis without sending technicians to the antenna site and without technicians having to climb to the antenna to physically check the alignment. 
   Each alignment monitoring system includes a light sensor including at least one phototransistor mounted within a housing that has at least a transparent wall portion through which light from the sun or from a fixed light source may enter into the housing. At least one baffle member is mounted within the housing to prevent incoming light from illuminating the phototransistor except when the incoming light is aligned with a slot in the baffle member that is open to the phototransistor. The invention uses the sensed time of illumination of the at least one phototransistor and a known orientation of the light source to determine an angular relationship of the sensor, and thus the antenna, to the light source. In some embodiments, the baffle member that is mounted in fixed relationship to the at least one phototransistor, may be indexed or moved in controlled movement relative to one or more axes such that the exact position of the sensor at the time of illumination of the phototransistor may be used to determine an angular relationship between the antenna and the light source. 
   In some embodiments a plurality of phototransistors are mounted in a circular relationship within the housing with a separate baffle member being associated with each phototransistor. In this manner, a plurality of time recordings at different relative incoming light angles may be used to accurately determine the relative orientation of an antenna to a light source. 
   In other embodiments of the invention, the baffle members will include light passageways defined by opposing projections that create a plurality of narrow slits through which the incoming light must pass to illuminate a phototransistor. Chambers are defined between the slits having reflective walls to direct light outwardly away from the phototransistor or, adjacent the phototransistor, toward the phototransistor. 
   In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the baffle members are formed as a stack of opaque plates having beveled slots formed therein that are aligned with one another and with underlaying phototransistors. Light may be directed toward the slots after being reflected from reflective surfaces within the housing. The beveling of adjacent plates may be reversed so as to reflect undesired light from the slots. Again, the sensing of the time of illumination of the various phototransistors is used to determine an angular relationship or orientation of the sensor, as thus an antenna to which the sensor is mounted, relative to a light source. 
   In addition to the foregoing, in some embodiments of the invention, one or more electronic level sensors may be mounted within the housing of an alignment system to determine or measure tilt and roll of an antenna. When two level sensors are used they are mounted perpendicular to one another. 
   The present invention may be used to frequently and automatically check alignment of antennas. No personnel must climb to the antennas nor be in the vicinity for the system to check alignment. Alignment is checked independently of signal strength, which can help eliminate a source of antenna malfunction when attempting to solve a service problem. No extra cost is incurred to make frequent measurements or verifications using the invention, as all the measurements are made automatically. The invention may also be programmed to automatically alert the antenna owner to an out of alignment condition, relieving the antenna owner of maintaining a scheduled check of alignment. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the invention will be had with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective illustrational view showing sensors of the invention on an array of three directional antennas; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective illustrational view showing the sensors of the system with the array of three directional antennas mounted to a pole and connected to monitoring equipment; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one of the fixed multi-element sensors shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view through the fixed multi-element sensor of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the fixed multi-element sensor of  FIG. 3  showing phototransistors associated therewith; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view through several of the phototransistors and baffle of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of one of the phototransistor baffles shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a top perspective illustrational view showing one of the sensors mounted to a mounting bracket that secures one of the antennas to a pole or towner; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the present invention wherein a single phototransistor element is mounted within a housing such that the phototransistor element may be rotated to function as a single axis sweeping sensor; 
       FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view of the single axis sweeping sensor of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a further modified embodiment of the invention wherein a single phototransistor is mounted within a housing so to form a double axis sweeping sensor; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention formed as a flat mask fixed sensor; 
       FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view of the flat mask fixed sensor of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is an angled overhead view of the flat mask fixed sensor showing a phototransistor through the slots in plates forming the mask; and 
       FIG. 15  is an angled overhead view of a circuit board with phototransistors used with the flat mask fixed sensors, with the plates and mirror(s) or reflector(s) removed. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   This invention can be configured in four ways depending on the deployment environment. The basic system in all cases, see  FIG. 1 , consists of sensors  1  which mount to antennas  2  to be aligned plus a central data collection and processing unit  3 , see  FIG. 2 . Each sensor  1  is mounted to an aligned directional antenna  2 , with a known geometric relationship to the directional characteristic of the antenna such that the sensor is fixed in a known angular relationship to the antenna. This can be a single or multiple segment antenna, as long as there is a common structure that can be used to define alignment of all the segments. Antennas are typically mounted on poles, towers or buildings or other tall structures  7  overlooking coverage areas using some type of adjustable brackets  4  allowing adjustment of the antennas in azimuth, or heading, and tilt angle, the angle above or below horizontal along the antennas&#39; center of energy heading direction. 
   Collection of data can be done at each sensor or at a remote central location. The preferred method is to have one data collection unit  3  for each site having multiple antennas, with the data collection unit accessible at the base of the tower or in an easily accessible control cabinet or room (not shown). Cables or wireless data transmission (not shown) connect the sensors to the data collection unit  3 . Data storage, reduction and processing can also be done at each sensor  1  or in the data collection unit  3 . It is also possible to have the data processing unit portable, such as a conventional computer  5 . Collected data may be transferred to either a disk or direct connection of the sensors  1  to the data collection unit  3  during a site visit or over the Internet. Software to process the data can be located either on the end users&#39; computer system or on a central Internet connected server. Files containing sensor data can be then sent to the server over the Internet for processing, and alignment results sent back to the end user. This method allows the software used to process the data to remain in possession of the supplier of the system so that a fee may be collected for each alignment check performed by the end user. 
   As noted, the sensors can be configured in four basic ways. The first is a fixed multi-element configuration as shown in  FIGS. 3-6  and  8 . This sensor features a plurality of phototransistor sensors  8  that face radially outward and that are disposed in a circular pattern and titled upward slightly, soldered by electrical contacts to pockets  15 , see  FIG. 6 , cut into an outside edge of a circular printed circuit board  16 . This configuration places the sensors in a position to have a maximum angular view to detect the sun from below horizontal to nearly overhead, using the maximum acceptance angle of the phototransistor sensors  8 . Each phototransistor sensor  8  is covered by a light baffle  9 , see  FIG. 7 , includes two molded plastic halves  10  and  11 . These halves may be held together by press fit pins  12  molded as part of one of the halves  10 , which fit into holes  13  in the other half  11 . The inside of each baffle  9  forms an inner chamber  14 , see  FIG. 5 , into which a phototransistor sensor  8  fits when the baffle  9  is mounted to the circuit board. Mounting is accomplished by sliding the baffle such that grooves  17 , see  FIG. 7 , in both outer sides of the halves  10  and  11  of the baffle  9  receive opposing flanges which define the side walls of the pockets or slots  15  cut into the outside edge of the circular printed circuit board  16 . This inner chamber  14  is the innermost of a plurality of chambers  18  formed by raised curved projections  19  from each half  10  and  11  of the baffle  9 . The raised curved projections  19  are placed directly across from one another on the opposite sides  10  and  11  of the baffle  9 , as seen in  FIG. 6 . 
   Together the raised curved projections  19  form narrow slits of a constant width “D”. This distance is set to allow an unobstructed view angle of about one degree across or in width, radially aligned with each phototransistor sensor  8 , and coming from the center of each. The raised curved projections  19  serve to block any light coming from outside of that view angle, and the reflections of any light coming from outside of that view angle. This is accomplished by the placement of the raised curved projections  19  in a radial direction, and by each raised curved projection  19  having a nearly normal face  20  and an angled face  21 . The angled faces  21  are on the radially outward side of the baffle  9  for all the raised curved projection  19  except the innermost. This is most effective in canceling internal reflections. The view of each phototransistor sensor  8 , is a vertically oriented fan, stretching from about 75 degrees above the horizontal (plane of the printed circuit board  16 ) to 10 degrees below, and one degree across. Combining all the views together allows for each sensor to detect the sun crossing at all elevations below about 75 degrees. By comparing tabulated or calculated solar azimuth positions versus time for the location that the sensor is deployed to the actual times of sun sightings by the phototransistor sensors  8 , the actual azimuth of the antenna  2  that the sensor  1  is mounted to can be determined. 
   The sensor  1  includes a base plate  22  that is mounted by legs  23  at a known reference on the antenna  2 , such as on a back there, to the adjustable mounting bracket  4 . The bracket  4  for mounting the sensor  1  to the antenna  2  is shown in  FIG. 8 . The number of phototransistor sensors  8  with baffles  9  is not important, other than more sensors  8  allow more opportunities for sensing the sun, and a minimum number is required especially in lower latitudes in the summer to not allow the sun to climb in elevation above the maximum view of the sensor without crossing at least one sensor view. The sensors  8 , baffles  9  and printed circuit board  16  are covered by a clear plastic dome  25  which protects the internals from weather and contamination. 
   One or more electronic level sensors  26 , see  FIG. 4 , are mounted to the printed circuit board  16  for determining elevation and roll of the sensor  1 , and thereby the antenna  2  it is mounted to. Level sensing is handled instantly by either a pair of electronic level sensors using a pendulum (not shown) or by a pair of solid state accelerometers  26 . In either case, the instruments are placed orthogonally with one axis aligned to the antenna down tilt. The level information is available to the installer in real time, and may be used to assist with antenna alignment during installation regardless of weather conditions. Level information from all the sensors gives information in two axes: tilt (horizontal perpendicular to the antenna&#39;s preferential radiation direction) and roll (horizontal along the antenna&#39;s preferential radiation direction). Tilt is the more important parameter to an antenna&#39;s performance, but roll information is also important, because the antenna&#39;s mapped radiation pattern assumes that the antenna is mounted level in roll. Also, some antennas are mounted with a certain amount of roll for strategic reasons. 
   This type of sensor may also be configured with more than one circuit board  16  stacked above another (not shown) with the sensors  8  and baffles  9  clocked relative to each other to provide more accurate sensing (finer angular pitch) or reduced overall diameter of the sensor. The circuit boards may be the same size, or progressively smaller as they go up, allowing greater overhead view. 
   Another way to employ the combination of the above described baffle  9  with the phototransistor sensor  8  is to mount only one set of these on a smaller printed circuit board  27  mounted to a drive shaft  28  of a motor  29 . This embodiment of sensor  1 A is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The motor  29  is either a stepper motor, which moves a precise step distance on command, or a servo type with a rotary position feedback device. This is important because the exact rotational position of the motor drive shaft and thereby the baffle  9  with the phototransistor sensor  8  must be known at all times. The motor is attached to a base  31  by a motor mount  32 . A start position for this measurement is given by a homing switch  30 , which can be one of several types commonly used for this purpose. This homing switch  30  senses the position of the printed circuit board  27  so that a reference traceable back to the mounting of the sensor base  31  to the antenna (not shown) may be established. Electronic level sensors  32 , see  FIG. 9 , are mounted to the printed circuit board  27  for determining elevation and roll of the sensor, and thereby the antenna (not shown) it is mounted to. These are of the same type and for the same purpose as described above. 
   Rotation of the baffle  9  with the phototransistor sensor  8  by use of the motor is limited to approximately plus or minus 180 degrees from a center position, because an electrical cable (not shown) is required to connect to the printed circuit board  27 . This allows the sensor to scan all headings by oscillating within its limits. Rotation of the baffle  9  with the phototransistor sensor  8  by use of the motor sweeps the sensor&#39;s view around in azimuth, to find the azimuth location of the sun. By comparing tabulated solar azimuth positions versus time for the location that the sensor is deployed to the actual times and azimuth measurements of sun sightings by the phototransistor sensor  8 , the actual azimuth of the antenna (not shown) that the sensor is mounted to can be determined. This sensor allows sighting the sun at any time during the day that it is below the maximum elevation of the view. This is an advantage on partly cloudy days. Also, this sensor can be made smaller overall than the sensor  1  described above. Sensor  1 A may also be used to determine azimuth compared to an artificial light source (not shown), making it possible to use at any time, day or night. This is done by installing a fixed artificial light source (not shown), within the possible view of the sensor, and rotating the sensor around until the source is discovered, then saving the angular position. Comparisons of later measurements to this position will show if the antenna has moved relative to the fixed artificial light source. The sensor  1  also includes a cover  25  that is at least partially transparent so that sun, or other light, may act on the phototransistors within the sensor. 
   A third embodiment of sensor  1 B of the invention is shown in  FIG. 11  and can be made by using the basic parts described above and mounting them to the output shaft  33  of a secondary motor  34  through another mounting plate  35  which replaces the motor mount  32  of previous embodiment. This secondary motor  34  is either a stepper motor, which moves a precise step distance on command, or a servo type with a rotary position feedback device. This is important because the exact rotational position of the motor and thereby the baffle  9  with the phototransistor sensor  8  with respect to both axes of motion must be known at all times. A start position for this measurement is given by a second homing switch  30 ′, which can be one of several types commonly used for this purpose. This homing switch  30 ′ senses the position of the printed circuit board  27  and the mounting plate  35  so that a reference traceable back to the mounting of the sensor base  31  to the antenna (not shown) may be established. This allows the sensor to sweep the entire sky to find the sun, and by rotating the view center plane to line up with the secondary motor  34 , it is possible to gain elevation information from the sun, in addition to azimuth. This would eliminate the need for the electronic level sensing device  32 . The sensor  12 B includes a transparent cover  25 . 
   As antennas are often mounted in tiers, lower antennas become coated with bird droppings from birds roosting on the upper antennas. To prevent the sensors  1 ,  1 A and  1 B from being blinded by these droppings, a shield  36  may be added to the top of the sensor, see  FIGS. 3 and 4 . This is a disk slightly larger in diameter than the dome  25 , placed some distance above the dome  25 . It may be attached by screws  37  into raised bosses molded into the dome  25  for this purpose. The shield  36  limits the sensors ability to detect the sun at high elevations. Raising the height of the shield  36  will allow higher elevations of the sun to be sighted by the sensor, but offers less protection. The shield may be configured with a vertical lip or edge protruding downward (not shown) to prevent liquids from traveling under the shield by surface tension and dripping on the sensor dome. Also, the shield may be made conical, pitched up in the center (not shown) so that liquids run off faster. 
   The fourth embodiment of the invention is disclosed in  FIGS. 12 through 15 . This is a fixed, multi-element mask sensor  1 C with the baffling accomplished by a stack of flat opaque plates  40  with slots  41  having angled side walls  50  molded into them that define narrow slits  52  that function the same as the slits described with respect to the sensor  1 . The phototransistor sensors  42  are arranged in a circle facing up on a printed circuit board  43 , see  FIG. 15 , so as to be below the stack of plates. The phototransistor sensors  42  have a view completely blocked by the flat opaque plates  40  above, except for where a set of the radial slots  41  line up directly above each phototransistor sensor  42 . This slot configuration can be attained by the use of a set of three very thin opaque plates spaced apart vertically with very narrow aligned slits cut in them, or preferably by a set of six plates, as shown in the drawings, with alternating wider slots with at least one angled side  50  which overlap slightly, creating the effect of very narrow slits  52  defined by angled sides  50 . The angled sides  50  function the same as the angled faces  21  of the projections  19  of the sensors  1  described herein. The angled sides are necessary to reduce low angle reflections of the sun off of the edges of the slots into the sensor. In order to create chambers in the stack of plates similar to those shown at  18  of sensor  1 , every other plate is stacked upside down relative to the adjacent plates in the stack. That is, the beveled or angled sides define an internal volume between two vertically spaced slits. For the same reasons as previously described, the angled walls should face upwardly except for the lowest plate. 
   There can be as few as two sets of slotted plates, and more than six would also work. These spaced narrow radial slots  41  with angled edges are effective in blocking off-axis views of the sun created by internal reflections, ensuring only true direct sightings are viewed by the phototransistor sensors  42 . The phototransistor sensors  42  as mounted in this sensor have a narrow fan shaped view overhead. The view is about one degree across, and angles downward from vertical about 60 degrees, or down to about 30 degrees above the horizon. This is not low enough to see the sun in the winter at many latitudes, so a mirror  44  is necessary. This mirror  44  is conical, with the large end up. The outer surface is polished to reflect light. It is mounted above the phototransistor sensors  42  and the stack of flat opaque plates  40 . The mirror  44  is dimensioned so that the small end is just inside a vertical line projected up from each of the phototransistor sensors  42 , and angled so that a view from about 10 degrees above horizontal up to slightly overlapping the direct view of the phototransistor sensors  42  of about 30 degrees above horizontal. The mirror can be a surface of revolution, but that introduces power loss due to the curvature of the reflecting surface. 
   A better solution is the flat faceted design shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14 , where each facet  45  lines up with a phototransistor sensor  42  and a set of narrow radial slots  41  through the flat opaque plates  40 . To prevent stray light from entering the phototransistor sensors  42  from under the edge of the flat opaque plates  40 , an o-ring is placed outside the ring of phototransistor sensors  42 , between the bottom flat opaque plate  40  and the printed circuit board  43 . 
   Electronic level sensors (not shown, but similar to the ones pictured in the other configurations above) are mounted to the printed circuit board  43  for determining elevation and roll of the sensor, and thereby the antenna  2  it is mounted to. Level sensing is handled instantly by either a pair of electronic level sensors using a pendulum (not shown) or by a pair of solid state accelerometers. In either case, the instruments are placed orthogonally with one axis aligned to the antenna down tilt. Azimuth sensing is identical in function to the other fixed multi-element sensor. A clear plastic dome  47  is used to protect the internal parts as in the sensors above. 
   The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the invention to the particular embodiment illustrated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by all of the embodiments encompassed within the following claims and their equivalents.