WIRELESS ACCESS POINT ANTENNA HOUSING

An antenna housing that is generally ovular such that a sidewall of the housing has two curved surfaces (e.g., rounded ends) on opposing ends of the housing. The ovular shape of the housing allows a center of curvature of each rounded end to be disposed within an interior of an antenna bay(s) within the housing. In such an arrangement, the placement of the centers of curvature within the antenna bays allows for pivotally mounting individual antennas at or near the center of curvature. This allows pivoting the antennas within the antenna bay while maintaining a normal vector (e.g., extending normal to an emitting surface of the antenna) nearly perpendicular with an inside surface of shroud surrounding the antenna housing thereby reducing RF reflection and/or scatter.

FIELD

The present disclosure is broadly directed to a wireless access point or small cell pole configured to provide coverage for local service areas.

BACKGROUND

In wireless communication networks, high-powered base stations (e.g., towers supporting antennas) commonly provide service over large geographic areas. Each base station is capable of serving wireless user devices in a coverage area that is primarily determined by the power of the signals that supported antennas can transmit. Frequently, high-powered base stations (e.g., macro stations) are located in a grid pattern with each base station mounting various antennas elevated on a tower. While such towers have previously provided adequate coverage for wireless applications, such high-powered base stations tend to be too widely spaced for newer high-bandwidth wireless applications.

To improve wireless access, providers are moving toward smaller stations that provide enhanced coverage for more limited geographic areas. That is, to augment the coverage of the wireless network, wireless transceiver devices/antennas (e.g., access points) with relatively small coverage areas (and serving capacities) are deployed. Depending on their coverage area and serving capacities, these wireless transceiver devices are referred to as “femto” cells or “pico” cells. For simplicity and generality, the terms “small cell pole,” “wireless access point” or “access point” are used herein to refer to a wireless transceiver system (e.g., one or more sets of radios/antennas) that are configured to serve wireless user devices over relatively small coverage areas as compared to a high-powered base station that is configured to serve a relatively large coverage area (“macro cell”).

The increasing use of RF bandwidth or ‘mobile data’ has required a corresponding increase in the number of access points to manage the increased data. By way of example, 5G wireless networks providing improved network speeds and are currently being implemented. Such networks typically require shorter RF transmission distances compared to existing networks and thereby require more dense networks of access points. Along these lines, access points are being installed in urban areas to serve several city blocks or even to serve a single city block. Such installations are often below roof-top level of surrounding buildings. That is, access points are being installed at ‘steel-level’ sites typically on small dedicated small cell poles

SUMMARY

The present application is directed to an antenna housing that is generally ovular such that a sidewall of the housing has two curved surfaces (e.g., rounded ends) on opposing ends of the housing. The ovular shape of the housing allows a center of curvature of each rounded end to be disposed within an interior of an antenna bay(s)s within the housing. In such an arrangement, the placement of the centers of curvature within the antenna bays allows for pivotally mounting individual antennas at or near the center of curvature. This allows pivoting the antennas within the antenna bay while maintaining a normal vector (e.g., extending normal to an emitting surface of the antenna) nearly perpendicular with an inside surface of shroud surrounding the antenna housing thereby reducing RF reflection and/or scatter. In practice, this may allow for housing two antennas within the housing behind one curved surface and housing a single antenna behind the other curved surface. The use of the two curves surfaces permits, especially in urban canyons, better directing the antennas into the street (e.g., single antenna) and along both directions of a sidewall (e.g., two antennas in second curved surface) while maintaining an active surface of the antennas at acceptable incident angles relative to the interior surface of the sidewall.

In an arrangement, the antenna housing may be configured for attachment to a pole or other support. The housing has an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from the upper surface. At least one sidewall surface extends between the upper surface the lower surface, wherein the upper surface, the lower surface and the sidewall surface at least partially define an enclosed interior area of the housing. Generally, the sidewall extends between peripheries of the upper and lower surfaces. In cross-section the sidewall has a first curved surface on a first end of the housing and a second curved surface on a second end of the housing where first and second side surfaces connect the first and second curved surfaces. The cross-sectional shape of the sidewall has is elongated shape where a length along axis between a first and second ends is greater than a maximum dimension between the side surfaces. As noted, this allows mounting one antenna within the housing proximate to the first curved surface and mounting two within the housing proximate to the second curved surface. The antennas may be pivotally mounted such that they move relative to their curved surfaces while maintaining an nearly perpendicular incident angle with an inside surface of the sidewall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which at least assist in illustrating the various pertinent features of the presented inventions. The following description is presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to limit the inventions to the forms disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the following teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the presented inventions. The embodiments described herein are further intended to explain the best modes known of practicing the inventions and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the inventions in such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the presented inventions.

The present disclosure is broadly directed to a wireless access point or small cell pole that is intended for use primarily in urban environments. The access point includes features that are considered novel alone and/or in various combinations with additional features. In various embodiments, the wireless access point houses a plurality of wireless transceivers (e.g., radios and/or antennas). In various arrangements, the access point can support multiple sets of antennas, which may be associated with different wireless providers.

FIG.1Aillustrates one embodiment of a wireless access point10(e.g., small cell pole) having an antenna housing30that may include a plurality of individual bays40(e.g., antenna bays) as discussed herein. As shown, the access point10includes a lower pole section20that is generally hollow such that the pole section20may house, for example, cell control equipment for wireless antennas/radios in the housing30. The pole may also provide a passageway for cabling (e.g., power, fiber optics, etc.) from the lower end21of the pole section20to the upper end23of the pole section20and into the antenna housing30. The lower end21of the pole section20is configured to mount to a surface (e.g., ground surface). Various access panels and/or doors may be mounted to the pole section20to enclose equipment within the interior of the pole section. The upper end23of the pole section20supports the antenna housing30, which typically includes a plurality of individual antenna bays40. As illustrated, the antenna housing30includes five antenna bays. However, it will be appreciated that the antenna housing30may include more or fewer antenna bays40. Further, while the individual antenna bays40are illustrated as having equal sizes (e.g., heights) between a lower end32and upper end34of the housing30, it will be appreciated that the individual bays may have differing sizes. In the illustrated embodiment, the wireless access point10includes a kiosk8that may allow for user interaction, when the access point10is located, for example, in a public location or right-of-way (e.g., sidewalk). Such a kiosk8may provide various functionality (e.g., directions etc.).FIG.1Billustrates an alternate embodiment of the access point10that includes a display6. Such a display may provide public announcements, advertising, etc.

FIGS.2A-2Cvariously illustrate an exemplary internal structure of the access point10. As illustrated inFIG.2A, an access door12covering a front surface of the pole section20is open to expose a plurality of individual equipment bays22. The equipment bays22are configured to house, inter alia, cell control equipment for the antenna/radios supported in each of the antenna bays40. As illustrated inFIG.2A, shrouding that encloses interiors of the individual antenna bays40of the antenna housing is removed exposing various antennas/radios52disposed within the bays40.FIG.2Billustrates the access point10with the antennas/radios52removed from the antenna housing30. As illustrated, the housing30of the access point10the antenna bays40is formed from an interior spire42(e.g., antenna housing support pole) connected to the pole section20and a plurality of divider panels60. See alsoFIG.2C. The spire42may be bolted to the pole section20via a flange. However, other attachment means are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. The spire42is an elongated, typically tubular element. The spire42may be hollow to permit cabling to pass from the equipment housings22in the pole section20into the individual antenna bays40. Along these lines, the spire42may include one or more apertures44(e.g., through a sidewall of the spire) to provide an access opening for routing cabling into individual antenna bays. Further, the hollow spire42and apertures44along its length may allow for providing airflow to the interior of the antenna bays. However, this is not a requirement. The spire42may also include various dividers within its hollow interior to provide separate cable chases or ducts for wiring the various antennas in different antenna bays. As illustrated inFIG.2C, the spire42may include multiple attached spires having different diameters (e.g., smaller diameters at an upper end). However, this is not a requirement. That is, the spire may be a single piece (e.g., extending between the lower and upper ends32,34of the housing) or the spire may be a multi-piece element having individual pieces with a common diameter. In any arrangement, the spire provides an internal support structure for the antenna housing30.

To define individual antenna bays40of the housing30, separators or partition panels60are connected at various locations along the length of the spire42. More specifically, two adjacent spaced panels60define each antenna bay40. The panels60may be selectively attached to the spire42at desired locations to define antenna bays40having predetermined heights (e.g., distance between adjacent panels). As illustrated, the panels are evenly spaced. However, this is not a requirement.

FIGS.2D and2Eillustrate upper and lower perspective views of one embodiment of a panel60configured for connection to the internal spire42. As illustrated, the panel60includes a generally planar upper surface62that is spaced from a generally planar lower surface64. Other surface configurations are possible. A peripheral sidewall66extends about a periphery of the panel60and extends between the upper and lower surfaces62,64. In the illustrated embodiment, the panel60includes an internal aperture68that is sized to fit around (e.g., receive) the spire42during assembly. See, e.g.,FIG.2B. That is, the internal aperture68of the panel60may pass over an end of the spire42, the panel60may be positioned along a length of the spire to a desired location, and the panel60may be attached to the spire42via one or more connectors69(e.g., brackets, etc.). In the illustrated embodiment, the panel60is formed as a single piece requiring that the panel be positioned over an end of the spire42during assembly. However, it will be appreciated that the panel60may be formed of two or more pieces that may be adjoined to fit about and connect together and/or to the spire. When assembled in an antenna housing, the upper surface62of the panel60may form a bottom or lower surface of a first antenna bay (e.g., upper antenna bay) while the bottom surface64of the panel60may form a top or upper surface of a second antenna bay (e.g., lower antenna bay). Alternatively, if the panel60forms the upper end of the housing30or the lower end of the housing30, only one of the upper and lower surfaces62,64of the panel will form an end of an antenna housing.

The use of the internal spire42in conjunction with the divider panels60, allows the antenna housing to be modular. That is, the antenna housing may have a single antenna bay utilizing a shorter spire and two divider panels that define upper and lower ends of the housing. Alternatively, three panels and an internal spire of a selected length may define a housing having first and second antenna bays, four panels and an internal spire of a selected length may define a housing having three antenna bays, etc.

FIG.3Aillustrates an enlarged portion of the antenna housing30as identified inFIG.1B. In this view, the individual antenna bays are identified as bays40A,40B,40C and40D. In this embodiment, antenna bay40A defines a lower bay and bay40B defines an intermediate bay of the housing30while also defining an upper bay relative to lower bay40A. As illustrated, each antenna bay40A-D (hereafter40unless specifically referenced) is enclosed by two shrouds24a,24b, which extend between and around the peripheries of each pair of adjacent panels to that define each bay. The shrouds24a,24band adjacent panels60collectively define and at least partially enclose an interior of each antenna bay40. In this regard, the shroud generally defines a sidewall surface of the antenna housing30. Though illustrated as utilizing two shrouds24a,24bto at least partially enclose each antenna bay40, it will be appreciated that a single shroud, a pair of shrouds or multi-piece shrouds could be used to enclose multiple antenna bays or individual antenna bays. For instance, a pair of shrouds may extend from the lower end to the upper end of the housing30enclosing multiple individual antenna bays. In an embodiment, the shrouds are formed of a RF transparent material that allows a majority (e.g., greater than 90%) of RF energy to be emitted and/or received by antennas/radios disposed within an interior of the antenna bays. In an alternate embodiment, the shroud(s) may include apertures that align with active surfaces of the antennas/radios disposed within the housing.

FIGS.3B and3Cillustrate a perspective view and an exploded view of one of the antenna bays40. As illustrated in these figures, the antennas and internal support spire are removed for purposes of illustration. As shown, the antenna bay40is primarily defined by an upper panel60a, a lower panel60band first and second shrouds24a,24b. The first and second shrouds24a,24beach have an upper edge and a lower that engages about the peripheral edges/sidewalls of the upper and lower panels60a,60b. Each shroud further includes a plurality of apertures or vents26disposed proximate to the upper and lower edges of the shroud. When assembled, the vent apertures may at least partially align with the peripheral sidewall66of the panels60. See alsoFIGS.2D and2E. These vents26allow for airflow into and out of an interior of the antenna housing. In an embodiment, the vents26allow airflow to pass into air passages or ducts formed at least partially within in the peripheral sidewalls66of the panels60, as is further discussed below. In the illustrated embodiment, three dividers28are positioned within the interior of the antenna housing40, which in this embodiment is configured to hold three wireless antennas/radios. The dividers28separate the interior of the antenna bay40into three separate sections (See, e.g.,FIG.3A) In this regard, each divider28may extend between an inside surface of one of the shrouds24aor24bto the internal spire (not shown) and between a bottom surface of the upper panel60aand a top surface of the lower panel60b. The dividers28help minimize heat transfer between different antennas. The antenna bay may further include one or more side supports or support straps18(only one shown) that may extend between peripheral edges of the panels. It will be appreciated that when an antenna housing includes multiple bays, the support straps may extend between peripheral edges of multiple panels across multiple antenna bays.

FIG.3Dillustrates the upper antenna bay40B disposed above the lower antenna bay40A with the shrouds, the upper panel and the internal divider removed from the upper antenna bay40D for purposes of illustration. As illustrated, the antenna bay40B houses three antennas52within the interior of the antenna bay40B. In the illustrated embodiment, the 5G antennas/radios52are similar to the Streetmacro 6701 antennas produced by Ericsson. It will be appreciated that the wireless access point and antenna bays disclosed herein may be utilized with a variety of radios/antennas and that this 5G radio is presented by way of example only. Nonetheless, the Streetmarco antenna unit is representative of a general form of a number of 5G antenna units currently being installed. As illustrated, the radios52include a generally rectangular prism-shaped housing having a front panel or radome, which is a thin-walled RF transparent area that protects the forward emitting surface of an RF antenna (not shown). The illustrated radios may also include an internal cooling duct that passes through the rearward portion of the radio housing from an inlet (not shown) in the bottom surface to an outlet in the top surface. The cooling duct passes over a heat rejection surface disposed within the interior of the radio52. The heat rejection surface may be a finned surface (e.g., aluminum) attached to a rearward surface of the RF antenna. Commonly, the radio will include a fan (not shown) disposed within the radio housing to move air through the cooling duct from the inlet to the outlet. The air passing through the duct passes over the heat rejection surface thereby cooling the antenna. As is further discussed herein, the antennas may be connected to ducting such that cooling air is drawn over/through the individual antennas from an exterior of the antenna bay and expelled to the exterior of the antenna bay.

As noted above, each panel60forms a structure with spaced upper and lower surfaces62,64(e.g., polymer, sheet metal etc.) connected by a peripheral sidewall66. The interior of the panel may include various bracing to provide necessary structural rigidity. Alternatively, the panel may include insulation (e.g., foam) within its interior to prevent heat passing between adjacent antenna bays. In such an embodiment, the upper and lower surfaces may be printed, injection molded polymer and/or composite surfaces.

When supporting multiple antennas, a wireless access point may generate significant heat within the housing, and it is often desirable to remove such heat from the antennas or the housing. Along these lines, in various embodiments, the panel(s) provide a location for introducing and exhausting air from the interior of the antenna bays. More specifically. The panels60illustrated inFIGS.2D,2E and3Cinclude a plurality of airflow passages80a-cand8d-f(hereafter80unless specifically referenced), which are utilized to provide airflow to or from adjacent antenna bays. However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the panels may omit the airflow passageways80.

As illustrated inFIGS.2D and2E, each panel60includes three airflow passages formed in its upper surface62and three airflow passages80d-fformed in its lower surface64. In the illustrated embodiment, each airflow passage80is a channel that is recessed below the upper or lower surface of the panel60and which extends through the peripheral sidewall66. In this regard, each airflow passage80includes a first portion or end that opens through the sidewall66of the panel60and a second portion or end that opens through the upper or lower surface of the panel. Though illustrated as recessed channels, it will be appreciated that the airflow passages could be formed as ducts that are partially enclosed within the panel (e.g., having a sidewall that extends between two open ends). Further, in instances where a panel includes airflow passages on its upper and lower surfaces, the panel may be used to introduce and/or exhaust air from two adjacent antenna bays. That is, airflow passages in the upper surface of the panel may open into an upper antenna bay (e.g., forming air inlets into the upper bay) and airflow passages in the lower surface of the panel may open into a lower antenna bay (e.g., forming air outlets out of the lower bay). Such a panel may be termed a bi-directional panel. Though illustrated as having three sets of bi-directional airflow passages (i.e., passages on both the upper and lower surfaces of the panel), it will be appreciated that the number and location of the bi-directional ducts may be varied. Further, inlets and outlets of the airflow channels opening through the sidewall of the panel may be staggered about the periphery of the sidewall to prevent inlets used for an upper antenna bay from drawing in air exhausted from outlets used for a lower antenna bay. In other embodiments, only the upper or lower surface of a panel may include air passages. Such a panel may be termed a unidirectional panel. Such unidirectional panels may be utilized when a panel forms an upper end or lower end of an antenna housing, and the panel provides only airflow inlet(s) or airflow outlet(s) for a single antenna bay. However, a bi-directional panel may be used in such embodiments where the upper or lower airflow passages are capped with plates58effectively forming a unidirectional panel. SeeFIG.3E. Such an arrangement allows for utilizing a common divider panel for end panels that provide airflow to a single antenna bay as well as intermediate panels that provide airflow to two adjacent antenna bays.

When two panels60a,60bare used to form an antenna bay, the panels at least partially define plenums for use in inletting and exhausting into and out of the antenna bays and, in an embodiment, passing air over or through the individual antennas/radios within the antenna bay. To provide enhanced cooling for the antenna bay, the illustrated embodiment utilizes closed air flow paths that individually cool (i.e., pass over and/or through) each of the antennas/radios disposed within the antenna bay. In this regard, each antenna/radio may be disposed in an individual air flow path (e.g., substantially sealed air flow path) that enters the antenna bay through an airflow passage in a first panel (e.g., lower panel60b), passes over or through the radio (e.g., over a heat rejection surface of the radio) and is exhausted out of the bay via an airflow passage in a second panel (e.g., upper panel60a). In such an arrangement, the lower panel60bdefines a lower plenum (e.g., intake manifold) and the upper panel60adefines an upper plenum (e.g., exhaust manifold). SeeFIGS.3C and4.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lower panel60bincludes three airflow passages formed in its upper surface and extending through its peripheral sidewall. The airflow passages80formed in the upper surface of the lower panel may be fitted with air duct inserts82that each cover the portion the recessed channel recessed into the upper surface of the panel while leaving open the end of the recessed channel extending through the peripheral sidewall of the lower panel60b. The lower panel air ducts inserts82may terminate in an annular collar, which may be fit to additional ducting. Likewise, a bottom surface of the upper panel60aincludes three air passages formed in its lower surface and extending through is peripheral sidewall. The air passages80on the lower surface of the upper panel may also be fitted with air duct inserts (not shown) that cover a portion of the recessed channel while leaving the open the end of the recessed channel open through the peripheral sidewall of the upper panel. The upper panel air duct inserts may terminate in an annular collar, which may be fit to additional ducting.

The duct inserts82may be individually formed (e.g., 3-D printed) and connected to their respective panel. In the illustrated embodiment, a lower end of each duct insert engages the upper or lower surface of the panel about the edges of the recessed channels forming the air passages. Once assembled to the panels, a first open end of each duct82extends through the sidewall between the upper and lower surfaces of its panel. A second open end of each duct terminates in a collar that may be fit with additional ducting. This is best illustrated inFIG.4, which illustrates two radios52, connected between a lower panel60band an upper panel60aof an antenna bay40. Various components of the antenna bay40are omitted for clarity. As illustrated, each radio52connects to the air passages in the panels60a,60bvia a set of ducting. The set of ducting may include an inlet duct92that extends between the radio52and the collar of the duct insert82of the lower panel60b, an intermediate duct94that fits over or receives the rearward side (e.g., heat rejecting surface) of the radio52or an intermediate duct that extends through an interior of the radio, and an outlet duct96that extends between the radio52and the collar of the duct insert82of the upper panel60a. The various ducting may be designed to fit to specific radios. In some embodiments, the radios52include an internal fan that displaces air through the interior of the radio. In such embodiments, operation of the fan within the antenna/radio52draws air into the antenna bay40through the sidewall opening of an air passage in the lower panel60b, into the inlet duct92, through the intermediate duct94and over a heat rejecting surface of the antenna/radio, through the outlet duct96and expels air out of the antenna bay through the sidewall opening of the air passage in the upper panel60a. In this regard, the air passages and ducting provide airflow pathways between the exterior of the antenna bay40, through or over the radios and out of the antenna bay40thereby preventing heat build-up within the antenna bay. Similar ducts for use in connecting a wireless radio to inlet and outlet vents are set forth in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 11,201,382, which issued on Dec. 14, 2021, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. The connecting ducts, in conjunction with the panel airflow passages in the panel, allow the radios52to be cooled by passing air through the antenna bay without intermingling the cooling airflow or subsequently heated air with air in the interior of the bay.

As previously noted, the panels60a,60bmay be utilized with antennas/radios having an internal fan disposed within the radio housing. In such an arrangement, the intermediate duct94may be integrally formed by the radio. Radios having an integrated duct and cooling fan may be termed actively or forced cooled radios. It will be appreciated that numerous antenna/radios are passively cooled. That is, the radios have a heat rejection surface, typically on a rearward surface opposite of the radome but do not include an integrated fan to provide airflow/cooling.FIGS.5A and5Billustrate an embodiment of an outlet duct96configured for connection to a passive radio to provide forced cooling for such a passively cooled radio. As shown, the outlet duct has first and second mating pieces98a,98bthat mate about the periphery of a fan100. The outlet duct96is configured to engage an upper end of a passively cooled radio and an intermediate duct94that covers the rearward surface of such a radio. This is best illustrated inFIGS.3D and4. In such an embodiment, the rearward surface of each radio52, may be received within the intermediate duct94which forms a vertical plenum that provides an airflow passageway over the rear heat rejecting surface of the radio52. The outlet duct96may be connected to the airflow passage of an upper panel (not shown). Once assembled, the fan100disposed within the outlet duct96can provide forced cooling for the radio/antenna. Though illustrated as an outlet duct incorporating the fan100, it will be appreciated that the inlet duct could additionally or alternatively incorporate a fan to provide forced airflow.

FIGS.6A and6Billustrate the pole section20of the wireless access point10. Generally, the pole is an elongated structure having a hollow interior. In order to utilize a location of a wireless access point more effectively, the hollow interior of the pole section20may house equipment, for example, associated with the wireless antennas/radios supported in the antenna housing. In the illustrated embodiment, the support pole has a circular cross-section. However, it will be appreciated that the pole section may have other cross-sectional shapes (e.g., tubular shapes) and the presented embodiments are provided by way of example and not by way of limitation. As illustrated inFIGS.6A and6B, an access door12that covers a front surface of the pole section20is opened to expose a plurality of individual equipment bays22. The equipment bays22are configured to house, inter alia, cell control equipment for the antenna/radios supported in each of the antenna bays40. In the illustrated embodiment, the individual equipment bays22are formed as apertures in the sidewall of the tubular pole.

In an embodiment, each antenna bay of the antenna housing has a dedicated equipment bay22in the pole section20of the access point. While not a requirement to match the number of equipment bays with the number of antenna housings, in use the multiple antenna bays in the housing will typically house antennas/radios associated with different wireless carriers. Accordingly, it may be desirable to limit access to the individual antenna bays in the antenna housing and the individual equipment bays22in the pole section20. For instance, the shrouds may lock in position relative to each antenna bay to provide individual access to each antenna bay (e.g., keyed access). Further, the divider panels may prevent access between the interior of the antenna bays. Likewise, it may be desirable to limit access to the individual equipment bays22. As illustrated inFIG.6A, each of the equipment bays has a cover23that fits over the opening in the pole section defining the equipment bay22. These covers23may be locked to the pole utilizing keys or specialized fasteners. The covers23may be disposed below the common access door12when the access door is closed. To further limit access between the interior of the equipment bays22, baffle plates25may be disposed within an interior of the pole section20between the equipment bays22as illustrated inFIG.6C.

The baffle plates23limit or prevent access between adjacent equipment bays. However, the baffle plates include various openings27about their outer peripheries that allow routing cabling through the interior of the pole section to the antenna housing. Further, the baffle plates23may include interior apertures29to allow air flow through the interior of the pole section20. Similar to the antennas in the housing, equipment in the equipment bays generate heat during operation. Further, solar loading (e.g., solar irradiance on the pole section) can result in elevated temperatures within the interior of the pole section. To reduce temperatures in the pole, a fan (not shown) may be incorporated within the pole, typically near the top or bottom of the pole. The fan may push or draw air through the interior of the pole section20. To throttle the movement of air through the pole section, the size of the internal apertures29may vary between baffle plates23. For instance, lower baffle plates may have smaller internal apertures29while upper baffle plates have larger internal apertures29. To further prevent access between the equipment bays, the internal apertures may incorporate screens as shown inFIG.6C. Further, the baffle plates may be made as single piece elements of multiple piece elements.

FIGS.6A and6Billustrate the pole section20with the single access door12that opens to expose all of the individual equipment bays22. Stated otherwise, the access door12covers all of the equipment bays22when closed. However, it will be appreciated that individual access doors may be utilized to cover individual equipment bays12.FIGS.7A and7Billustrate the movement of the access door12from a closed position (FIG.7A) to an open position (FIG.7B).FIG.7Billustrated the door12in both the open and closed positions for purposes of illustration. In the illustrated embodiment, the access door12is generally U-shaped in cross-section. That is, the interior of the door is concave. An interior surface of the U-shaped door extends over the openings in the sidewall of the pole section20, which define the individual equipment bays22. The sidewalls of the U-shaped door are configured to engage the sidewall of the pole section20on either side of the equipment bay openings. When closed, the door prevents access to the equipment bays.

To allow better access to the equipment bays as well as provide anti-tampering safety, the door12utilizes a kinematic hinge arrangement. In this regard, the door12connects to the pole section20via rigid linkages110along the length of the door (only one shown in the cross-sectional views ofFIGS.7A and7B). A first end of the linkage110is pivotally connected via a first hinge112to the sidewall of the pole section20. A second end of the linkage110is pivotally connected via a second hinge114to an interior surface of the U-shaped door. As illustrated, the kinematic hinge arrangement allows for positioning the door12entirely away from the pole section20to provide improved access to the equipment bays. Further, both hinges112,114are positioned behind an interior surface of the door12when the door is closed. Such positioning prevents tampering with the hinges to gain access to the interior of the equipment bays. Additionally, the sidewalls of the U-shaped door may be bolted to the sidewall of the pole section with anti-tampering bolts to further secure the door.

Another feature of the antenna housing is illustrated inFIGS.8A and8B, which show a top view of an interior of another embodiment of an antenna bay40as defined by a lower divider/panel60(e.g., floor of the bay) and a sidewall/shroud24, through which radios/antennas52within the housing emit and/or receive radio frequency (RF waves). As the shroud(s) covers an active surface of the radios, the shroud is typically made of a material that is substantially transparent (e.g., transmission of greater than 90%) to radiofrequency (RF) waves. While being RF transparent, it is still desirable to align a normal of the emitting face (e.g., a normal vector perpendicular to the face of the emitting surface) to be nearly perpendicular with the interior surface of the shroud. That is, it is desirable to maintain an incident angle between the normal vector and an interior surface of the shroud as near to perpendicular as possible to reduce reflection or scatter. In the present embodiment, the ovular shape of the sidewall/shroud allows angular positioning of the antennas over a wider range of angles while maintaining the desired relationship between the emitting face of the radios and the inside surface of the shroud.

It has been recognized that prior antenna housings/bays typically utilize a circular cross-sectional design providing a uniform sidewall and spacing surrounding three equally spaced and angled antennas. In such an arrangement, the emitting faces of each radio/antenna is typically angled 120 degrees from the emitting faces of each adjacent radio/antenna. This works well when utilized in a circular housing. However, the inventors have recognized that utilization of three equally angled antennas for wireless access points in urban environments, especially environments with tall buildings (e.g., urban canyons), often results in one or two of the antennas being primarily directed at a building wall. This results in inefficient use of the antennas. The inventors have found it is desirable to direct one emitting face of one radio/antenna directly into the street and direct the emitting faces of the other two radios/antennas along the sidewalks. In such an arrangement, emitting faces of two radios are positioned 180 degrees from one another and the emitting face of the third radio is perpendicular to other two radios. While possible in some instances to aim the antennas within the prior art circular housings away from nearby buildings, this has often left a normal vector from an emitting surface of an antenna being overly angled (e.g., highly non-perpendicular incident angle) relative to an interior surface of a circular shroud. Such an incident angle between the normal vector of the emitting surface and the interior of the shroud can affect RF emission and RF reception.

The presented antenna housing overcomes the deficiencies of prior generally circular antenna housings by utilizing a housing and shroud having an elongated or generally ovular shape. SeeFIGS.8A and8B. As illustrated, a long axis of the antenna bay (e.g., extending through the central support/spire) is greater in length that the cross-axis of the bay (e.g., extending through the central support/spire perpendicular to the long-axis). Stated otherwise, the bay40has a generally ovular shape such that the bay has two rounded ends140,142and two side surfaces. The use of the of an elongated housing allows for moving the center of curvature CC1and CC2(SeeFIG.8A) of each rounded end (and/or rounded corner) into the interior of the antenna bay rather than in the center of a central support of the housing. This allows mounting the radios/antennas on pivot points that are on or near the center of curvature CC1and CC2for the portion of the shroud through which they emit and receive. This allows rotating the emitting surface of each radio along a curved inside surface of the shroud while maintaining a near perpendicular relationship between the normal vector of the emitting surface and the inside surface of the shroud. Accordingly, reflection and/or scatter is reduced. The ovular shape allows two of the antennas to be positioned at 180 degrees to one other without having an emitting surface of the antennas disposed at an incident angle relative to the inside surface of the shroud that may result in undesirable reflection.

As illustrated inFIG.8A, two of the antennas52are mounted in one rounded end140of the housing40while a single antenna is mounted in the other rounded end142of the housing. As illustrated a bracket130connects the two antennas in the second rounded end to the support spire42such that they are disposed adjacent to the interior surface of the second rounded end at a substantially similar distance as the antenna in the first rounded end. When equally angled to form 120-degree sectors, the emitting surfaces of each of the antenna directly face the inside surface of the housing. Stated otherwise a normal vector NV from each of the radios (only one shown) is substantially perpendicular to the inside surface of the shroud26.

In urban setting with tall buildings, it may be desirable to aim the antenna52A in the first end120outward toward a street (e.g., roughly perpendicular to the street) while aiming the other two antennas52B and52C substantially perpendicular to the first antenna such that they point in two directions along a sidewalk. This is illustrated inFIG.5B. As each of the two radios52B and52C are mounted near the center of curvature of the second end of the housing the normal vector NV remains nearly perpendicular to the inside surface of the housing. SeeFIG.8B. In an embodiment, substantially perpendicular means the normal vector remains plus or minus 10 degrees from perpendicular to the inside surface of the housing over a 45 degree range of angular movement of the antenna. In another embodiment, substantially perpendicular means the normal vector remains plus or minus 10 degrees from perpendicular to the inside surface of the housing over a 45 degree range of angular movement of the antenna.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the inventions and/or aspects of the inventions to the forms disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the presented inventions. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain best modes known of practicing the inventions and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the inventions in such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the presented inventions. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.