Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for an antenna enclosure. An enclosure through which satellite signals from satellite positioning services may be received may include an antenna to receive the satellite signals and relay the signals to a receiver, and the enclosure may be coupled to a device to disguise the enclosure as a component of construction equipment. The enclosure may include a receiver device to process received satellite signals. The device may be a work light. The enclosure may include mounting hardware to mount the enclosure to a construction vehicle, such as an excavator, articulated truck, compact track loader, compaction equipment, crawler dozer, forklift, loader/backhoe, loader/tool carrier, motor grader, skid steer loader, telescopic handler, or wheel loader.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 61/048,143 filed on Apr. 25, 2008, the contents of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Assets, such as construction equipment are increasingly being tracked and monitored using GPS tracking devices. Theft, or disablement of such GPS tracking devices when the assets are in remote locations, or on sites that are not always secure, is an increasingly expensive problem. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods and apparatus that implement techniques related to an antenna enclosure. 
         [0004]    In a first aspect, an enclosure and a device are provided. Satellite signals from satellite positioning services are received through the enclosure. The enclosure includes an antenna to receive the satellite signals and relay the signals to a receiver. The device is coupled to the enclosure where the device is to disguise the enclosure as a component of construction equipment is provided. 
         [0005]    In a second interrelated aspect, a base and a top portion are provided. The base has a first plurality of openings around a circumference for affixing the base to a mounting surface (e.g., construction equipment, etc.) and a second plurality of openings. The base also includes a mounting portion on which a GPS unit having at least one antenna can be mounted. The top portion covers the base so that the GPS unit is not visible when coupled to the base. The top portion comprises a third plurality of openings for affixing the top portion to the base via the second plurality of openings as well as an outwardly extending opaque element positioned substantially over the GPS unit when the top portion is affixed to the base. 
         [0006]    Variations may include one or more of the following features. An enclosure may include a receiver device to process received satellite signals. A device coupled to an enclosure may be a work light. An enclosure may be disguised to appear as part of the light housing and not a separate component. An enclosure may include mounting hardware to mount the enclosure to a construction vehicle, such as an excavator, articulated truck, compact track loader, compaction equipment, crawler dozer, forklift, loader/backhoe, loader/tool carrier, motor grader, skid steer loader, telescopic handler, or wheel loader. 
         [0007]    The subject matter described herein can be implemented to realize one or more of the following advantages. A satellite receiver antenna may be enclosed in an enclosure that serves as a decoy of another feature of construction equipment and does not appear as a satellite receiver antenna. For example, a satellite receiver antenna may be enclosed in an enclosure that includes a work light. Such a device may be less likely to be tampered with by a machine&#39;s operator or a potential thief due to its misleading appearance. As a consequence, the misleading appearance may aid an owner in recovering the equipment if it is stolen as the satellite antenna may continue to operate. Also, as the device may be mounted to an exterior surface of a construction vehicle (or other equipment), reception of satellite signals might not be interfered by the vehicle (e.g., if a vehicle has a thick metal roof that interferes with reception). In vehicles where a roof or other surface of construction equipment does not interfere with reception, an antenna enclosure may be mounted inside the equipment and be disguised as a component of the construction equipment. 
         [0008]    Details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and in the description below. Further features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a satellite positioning system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an antenna enclosure device. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3A-3B  are block diagrams of antenna enclosure devices. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  is a diagram of two components of an antenna enclosure device displayed separately. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  is a diagram of the two components of the antenna enclosure device of  FIG. 4A  affixed to each other. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    Satellite tracking devices require an antenna that has line of sight with satellite networks such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), and the Galileo satellite positioning system to determine a receiver device&#39;s latitude, longitude, velocity, and altitude. The antennas that receive satellite signals typically require an unobstructed view of the sky to receive the signals. Satellite positioning receivers may require reception of signals from at least two satellites in order to determine one or more locations of the receivers. 
         [0016]    Information from a satellite positioning receiver may be transmitted from the receiver over a network, such as a wireless network, to a server to display the location of the receiver to an end user. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a satellite positioning system. In  FIG. 1 , the satellites  105  send signals that may be received by a receiver on each of a van  110  and an excavator  115 . Each receiver may receive signals from at least two satellites at once to determine a position. That information may be sent wirelessly (e.g., over a CDMA (code-division multiple access) or GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) link; low-earth orbiting satellites; WiMax (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 standard), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity; e.g., according to the IEEE 802.11 (g) standard), Zigbee (e.g., according to IEEE 802.15.4); 2.5 Ghz, 900 Mhz, or other wireless networks) from each of the van  110  and excavator  115  to the towers  120 , which may relay that information to the servers  125  that may process the information. The servers  125  may be part of a communication network run by a mobile network operator (e.g., VERIZON), may be part of a location based service separate from a mobile network operator, or may be part of another affiliation. The servers  125  may communicate with end user devices, such as the laptop  135 , personal computer  130 , or mobile handset device  140 , to relay location based information derived from the positioning information sent by the van  110  and excavator  115  (e.g., the servers  125  may be web servers that include web-based applications for processing the positioning information and overlay it on a map with other information that may be useful to an end-user (e.g., a name of a vehicle associated with positioning information)). 
         [0018]    Since antennas of receivers may require a line of sight with the satellites to aid in determining their locations, mounting the antennas underneath metal or fiberglass (e.g., heavy or thick proportions of these materials that may be part of a frame of a construction vehicle) may be undesirable because these materials may obstruct signals from the satellites. Thus, while antennas may be hidden underneath a dashboard of a car, truck or van, they might not be easily hidden when installed in construction equipment. A monitoring unit installed in construction equipment may have an external antenna that is mounted on the exterior of the equipment to receive satellite signals such that there is a strong signal, if any. External mounting may be required because the equipment is made of steel or another dense metal that would not allow the satellite signals to travel into an interior location of construction equipment (e.g., construction vehicles such as an excavator). Since an antenna may be exposed on an exterior of the equipment, it might not be easily concealed and a potential thief may easily determine that it is used to monitor the location of the equipment. Such a thief may easily disconnect or cut the wires to the satellite receiver antenna rendering the device unable to determine its location to aid in theft recovery. 
         [0019]    An enclosure for a satellite receiver antenna may appear as a standard emergency light or another standard feature of construction equipment to address issues related to an antenna that might be otherwise easily recognizable as a satellite receiver antenna. The enclosure may house the satellite receiver antenna and may further house the receiver. The enclosure may be a weather resistant box with a functional light mounted on top of it. The enclosure may be mounted on the exterior of the construction equipment and appear to be a standard work light (e.g., a standard emergency light, such as a rotating yellow light that may be used when construction equipment is in use, or as a light used to assist visibility). The enclosure may be part of a non-functional (e.g., non-functional in the sense that light is not emitted but may be functional in the sense of being a decoy), “dummy” work light and the satellite antenna, receiver, or both may be mounted within the non-functional, “dummy” light. A device that appears as a standard light may be less likely to be tampered with by a machine&#39;s operator or a potential thief. This may aid an owner in recovering the equipment if it is stolen. In other variations, a functional lighting device is also incorporated into the enclosure. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an antenna enclosure device  200 . The antenna enclosure device  200  includes a light fixture  205 , a satellite antenna  210 , and a weatherproof enclosure  215 . In general, operation of the device  200  may be as follows. Positioning satellites may constantly send signals to Earth. The device  200  mounted on or in a vehicle or other construction equipment may receive these signals (through the satellite antenna  210  that is located within the enclosure  215 ) and uses them to determine latitude, longitude, altitude and velocity of the device  200  (e.g., with the use of a receiver device located within the enclosure  215  or located outside the enclosure  215  (e.g., the antenna  210  may relay signals to receiver hardware within a vehicle that may process the signals)). The device  200  may then transmit latitude, longitude, altitude, velocity, and other data over a wireless network (e.g., CDMA, GSM, WIMAX (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), or a wireless network using another technology) to a processing server (e.g., one of the servers  125  of  FIG. 1 ). The incoming information may then be processed and stored on computer servers (e.g., the servers  125 ) or directly on an end user&#39;s server or personal computer (e.g., the laptop  135 , personal computer  130 , handset  140 , all three types of devices, or another device). A user may log into a web site or open a system&#39;s software program to view the current and past locations and activities of the vehicles and equipment (e.g., through the laptop  135 , personal computer  130 , handset  140 , all three types of devices, or another device). 
         [0021]    The enclosure  215  may be made of heavy grade plastic materials and may also consist of rubber, poly vinyl chloride, and many other non-metal materials. A key characteristic of the enclosure  215  is that radio frequencies sent by positioning satellites can penetrate its exterior (and be receivable by the antenna  210 ). 
         [0022]    Although the enclosure  215  is shown as including the satellite antenna  210 , they may further include one or more of the following: a wireless transmission antenna (e.g., for communicating with the servers  125  over a wireless network); a satellite signal micro-controller (e.g., a receiver device to process incoming satellite signals to determine longitude, latitude, altitude, and velocity); a wireless modem; and a printed circuit board. The satellite signal micro-controller processes the location satellite signals to assist in determining the device&#39;s location. The wireless modem may allow the device to send and receive data and commands over a wireless network. Each component may reside on a printed circuit board, which may manage how the device  200  interacts with each component and its power supply. The enclosure  215  may also include a small battery to provide power to the device. The enclosure  215  may also house the positioning satellite receiver antenna with or without one or more components of a tracking device (e.g., further hardware may be required for tracking, such as a storage device to log positions or further hardware to assist with dead-reckoning). 
         [0023]    Although the enclosure  215  is weatherproof, in variations it need not be. In addition, in variations the enclosure  215  may be tamper-proof. For example, it might be formed using security screws such that a normal screwdriver is not capable of opening the enclosure  215 . Also, although the enclosure  215  is shaped as a rectangular box, the enclosure  215  may be of another shape. A shape of the enclosure  215  may mimic a typical enclosure that accompanies a work light for construction equipment (e.g., having the same dimensions, amount of sides, and angles). 
         [0024]    The satellite reception antenna  210  is inside the enclosure  215  and may be positioned in an area adjacent to the light fixture  205 . The antenna  210  may be placed facing the top surface or one of the side surfaces of the enclosure. 
         [0025]    The light fixture  205  may mask the device  200  and may be incorporate different types of lights, including halogen spot lights, florescent lights, other gas tube lights and strobe type lights. The light may be placed on top of the enclosure or on one of the sides of the enclosure. It may be placed in a location not to obstruct the signals sent to the satellite receiver antenna. The light fixture  205  may be attached to the enclosure  215  using a heavy grade glue, Velcro-type material, a bolt/screw connection, by using welding, rivets, or other mechanisms, techniques, or both. 
         [0026]    The enclosure  215  may be mounted on an exterior surface of a vehicle or other construction equipment. It may be mounted using Velcro-type materials, double sided tape, or a heavy duty glue or other adhesive. It may also be mounted using brackets attached to the enclosure and the body of the vehicle or construction equipment. Other types of mounting mechanism, techniques, or both may be used. 
         [0027]    The enclosure may be composed of a type of material designed to allow painting to match one or more colors of construction equipment or vehicles that it is attached to. It may also be composed of material that is not easily painted. 
         [0028]    The device  200  may be powered by the vehicle or construction equipment&#39;s battery, or may have its own dedicated battery to be used as a power supply. A dedicated battery may be housed inside or outside of the enclosure  215 . If using a vehicle or construction equipment&#39;s battery supply, the electrical wiring for the device may be required to run from the enclosure to the vehicle or construction equipment for power. It may also run to an ignition power cable to determine when the engine of the vehicle or construction equipment is turned on and off. It may also be required to have a wire run to the chassis of the vehicle or construction equipment for a ground connection. The wires may extrude from the top, bottom, or side of the enclosure to be run to the appropriate connection in the vehicle or construction equipment. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 3A-3B  are block diagrams of antenna enclosure devices. The device  300  of  FIG. 3A  is similar to the device  200  of  FIG. 2  with an exception being that the light bulb  320  as part of the light fixture  305  is situated part-way inside the enclosure  300  whereas the light bulb  220  is situated wholly within the light fixture  205 . The incorporation of the light bulb  320  within the enclosure  315  may assist in disguising the device  300  as not including an antenna. 
         [0030]    The device  325  of  FIG. 3B  is a rotating emergency light that incorporates a satellite receiver antenna  330 . The satellite antenna  330  is housed inside the base  335 , which may further include a motor for rotating the light bulb rotating assembly  340 . The light bulb rotating assembly  340  is located inside the lens  345  and the rotating assembly  340  includes the light bulb  345 . As with the incorporation of the antenna  310  into the enclosure  315  for the antenna  310  in the device  300 , the incorporation of the antenna  330  into a typical component of a light may assist with disguising the device  325  as not including an antenna. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4A  is a diagram of two components of an antenna enclosure device displayed separately (a top portion  400  and a base  410 ) and  FIG. 4B  is a diagram of the top portion  400  affixed to the base  410 . The base  410  can include a first plurality of openings  412  around a circumference for affixing the base to construction equipment and a second plurality of openings  414 . The base  410  can further include a mounting portion on which a GPS unit  420  having at least one antenna  422  coupled thereto is mounted. The top portion  400  is configured to cover the base  410  so that the GPS unit  420  and the antenna  422  are not visible. The top portion  400  can include a third plurality of openings  402  for affixing the top portion to the base  410  via the second plurality of openings  414 . The top portion  400  can further include an outwardly extending opaque element  404  positioned substantially over the GPS unit  420  when the top portion is affixed to the base  410 . The opaque element  404  can be positioned to allow satellite signals from GPS satellites to be received by the antenna  422  coupled to the GPS unit  420 . 
         [0032]    The opaque element  404  can be cylindrical. At least one of the base  410  and the top portion  400  can be manufactured from a material through which the satellite signals from GPS satellites cannot propagate. The top portion  400  can completely cover the base  410  when affixed thereto. One or more of the top portion  400  and the base  410  can include a light element (not shown) positioned to emit light through the opaque element  404 . The top portion  400  can also include one or more ports  406  to allow for electrical connections to devices enclosed by the antenna enclosure device including the GPS unit  420 . 
         [0033]    In implementations, technologies other than, or in addition to, GPS may be used to determine a location. For example, triangulation of cellular towers or other techniques may be used to determine location in the absence of a true GPS fix. As another example, with Assisted GPS, a fix may be attempted from satellites, and (if line of sight doesn&#39;t exist) then attempted from several other calculations to determine approximate location. An A-GPS receiver may use an assistance server, where the assistance server may locate a device operating off mobile networks (e.g., an antenna that is in an enclosure and operates over cellular networks) roughly by what cell site it is connected to on the cellular network. An assistance server may have a good satellite signal, and lots of computation power, so it can compare fragmentary signals relayed to it by devices, with the satellite signal it receives directly, and then inform the device or emergency (e.g., theft recovery) services of the device&#39;s position. The server may supply orbital data for the GPS satellites to the device, enabling the device to lock to the satellites when it otherwise could not, and autonomously calculate its position. The server may also have better knowledge of ionospheric conditions and other errors affecting the GPS signal than the device alone, enabling more precise calculation of position. Some A-GPS solutions may require an active connection to a cellular (or other data) network to function, in others it may make positioning faster and more accurate, but is not required. As an additional benefit, A-GPS may reduce both the amount of CPU and programming required for a GPS device by offloading most of the work onto the assistance server. 
         [0034]    In implementations, other construction-related equipment may be used as a disguise for an antenna enclosure. For example, reflector lights (that do not use bulbs) may be also be used on an antenna enclosure. 
         [0035]    The subject matter described herein has been described in terms of particular embodiments, but other embodiments can be implemented and are within the scope of the following claims. For example, operations can differ and still achieve desirable results. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims