Abstract:
This invention relates to a rotatable device having two arms rotatably connected about a hollow hub wherein the arms include a cable extending through a passageway and the hub so as to minimize bending of the cables about each other when the arms are in a compact position. In particular this invention relates to a foldable GPS compass and a method relating thereto to present a compact folded device that is easier to install with minimal bending of the cables. The invention also discloses a detent disposed within the hub for accurate selective placement of the arms and method relating thereto

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a rotatable device having two arms rotatably connected about a hub wherein the arms include a cable extending through a passageway and the hub so as to minimize bending of the cables when the arms are displaced from a compact to an extended position. In particular this invention relates to a foldable GPS compass and a method relating thereto to present a compact folded device that is easier to install with minimal bending of the GPS antenna cables. The invention also discloses a detent device disposed within the hub for accurate selective placement of the arms and method relating thereto. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Wireless communications enable information to be exchanged using wireless devices, such as cellular telephones and Internet-enabled smart phones. With the ever-increasing demand for wireless bandwidth, it is becoming increasingly important to ensure that wireless networks are optimally deployed. 
         [0003]    Typically, wireless communication networks comprise a plurality of telecommunications antenna mounted high above antenna masts, transmission towers, and tall buildings. Each antenna is typically a panel antenna designed to serve a specific area, which in the case of cellular communications is referred to as a cell. The strength of the signal available to wireless devices within the cell is in part based on the precision of the installation of the antenna. 
         [0004]    To optimize the strength and bandwidth of the signal, the panel antenna must be properly aligned when it is installed. Due to wind and movement during servicing, the antenna must also be realigned from time to time. Alignment involves both pointing the antenna at a particular azimuth and at a particular mechanical tilt. Even small errors in the azimuth alignment will cause a significant degradation in signal quality. Mechanical tilt errors are not as critical since a mechanical tilt error is typically controlled electronically as well as mechanically. 
         [0005]    A multitude of prior art solutions are currently in use for azimuth alignment of panel antenna. Currently, the most accurate alignment apparatus are those that are mounted directly to the antenna during installation and servicing. 
         [0006]    Sunsight™ is the manufacturer of one such system that can be mounted either to the side or top of the antenna. The Sunsight system includes GPS antenna that are used to determine the azimuth of the panel antenna to be aligned. 
         [0007]    UMTS Project Partners is another manufacturer of an alignment system called the SPAA-05 (trademark).  FIG. 2  illustrates a SPAA alignment system. This system comes closer to measuring an accurate azimuth than the Sunsight system. It includes two arms, one of which braces the back panel of the antenna and the other which braces the front panel of the antenna. An arm configured to hold an electronic pointing system extends from the front arm. However, the shape and configuration of antenna cause a problem for the SPAA to provide precise alignment. 
         [0008]    Another antenna alignment system is manufactured 3Z Telecom which systems are more fully particularized in www.3ztelecom.com/antenna-alignent-tool/ 
         [0009]    One of the difficulties from such prior art devices relates to the size of the alignment systems. Generally speaking, a technician sometimes called a tower dog needs to climb a tower while carrying equipment to do man tasks with respect to the antenna. Therefore, if the size of these devices could be made smaller, they would be easier to deploy. 
         [0010]    It the equipment could be made smaller, this would not only help carry the equipment up a tower but also with shipping, the ability to hand carry the system back and forth as well as being able to bring it onto an airplane as carry-on luggage. 
         [0011]    One approach taken by the prior art relates to using board sets from Hemispheres as outlined in their data sheets. However, these prior art systems are not that accurate as the antennas are generally less than 0.5 meters apart. 
         [0012]    Another arrangement in the prior art is disclosed by Watson Industries, Inc. from Wisconsin, U.S.A. at www.watson-gyro.com relating to foldable GPS antennas that are stowed in a container bearing model number GGC-E101. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, there is a need to develop a system that is more compact and accurate than the prior art. However, the prior art devices require two spaced antennas that are generally 0.5 meters apart which antennas require cabling to central processing electronics. Furthermore, it is not advisable to utilize cables that are exposed to the environment or expose the cables to excessive bending. 
         [0014]    Therefore, there is a need to produce an articulated GPS compass that is foldable in a stacked position and that extends in an extended position. 
         [0015]    There have been some devices that illustrate articulated folding structures and methods. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,097,133 teaches an articulated wing which is readily deployable from a stowed configuration that occupies minimal volume to an extended configuration for flight. However, the cables utilized in this structure bends upon itself and is not suitable for a GPS compass system as the bending of the cables will affect the accuracy of the antennas. Another foldable device is demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,442 that relates to a flattenable foldable boom hinge. 
         [0016]    It is an object of this invention to provide a further improved foldable device which substantially eliminates the folding of the cable upon itself when the device is moved from its compact stacked position to an extended selectively rotatable position. 
         [0017]    It is another object of this invention to provide an improved foldable GPS compass which is easier to install and adjust. 
         [0018]    One aspect of the invention relates to a displaceable device comprising: at least two segments rotatable about a hollow cylinder between: a first composition and a second extended position; wherein one of said segments includes a passageway communicating with said hollow cylinder; and a cable extending through this passageway of one of the segments through the hollow cylinder, when the segments are rotated between the first compact position to the second extended position. 
         [0019]    It is another aspect of the invention to provide a rotatable GPS compass comprising: first and second arms rotatably connected at one end thereof and defining a hub rotatable between: a compact position where said first and second arms overlie each other; to an extended position with said first and second arms disposed along a first direction; the first arm carrying a first antenna at another end of the first arm; the second arm carrying a second antenna at another end of the second arm; first and second arms including a passageway communicating with the hub; one cable extending from the first antenna through the passageway of the first arm to the hub; another cable extending from the second antenna through the passageway of the second arm to the hub; wherein the first and second cables are subjected to torsional movement between the compact and extended positions. In one embodiment the arms and the antennas are selectively rotatable about preset positions relative an azimuth direction. 
         [0020]    Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a detent for selectively positioning a member comprising first and second discs where one of said discs includes recess means and the other disc includes a moveable pair of engageable gear protrusions adapted to engage said recess means at pre-selected positions. 
         [0021]    A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of installing a GPS compass onto an antenna tower comprising; moving a segmented GPS compass into a compact position; connecting one end of the compact GPS compass onto the antenna tower extending the segmented GPS compass so that each of the segments are in a selected direction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the rotatable GPS system in a compact position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the GPS system in an extended position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the rotatable GPS compass in a selected rotated left position namely −90 degrees to the antenna. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the rotatable GPS compass in an extended selected rotated right position namely +90 degrees to the antenna. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the rotatable GPS compass in a compact, stored position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along the lines A-A of  FIG. 5  through the hub. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  s a perspective view showing detent rings or discs and stacked rings having stop means. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a view of a display. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the stacked rings of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]      FIGS. 1 and 2  generally describe a rotatable device  2  in a compact and extended position, respectively that comprises a first and second arm or segment  102  and  104 . The first and second arm or segment  102  and  104  rotate about each other and in particular rotate about a hollow cylinder or hub  106  between a first compact or stored position as shown in  FIG. 1  and a second extended position as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0033]    The first and second arms  102  and  104  are hollow and include passageways  108  and  110  as best seen in  FIG. 7  which communicate with space  112  in hub  106 . 
         [0034]    A cable extends through the passageway  108  of one of the segments  102  through the hollow cylinder or hub  106  when the segments  108  and  110  are rotated between the first compact position as shown in  FIG. 1  and the second extended position shown in  FIG. 2 . The first and second arms  102  and  104  are substantially parallel to one another and stacked in the first compact position. 
         [0035]    A first arm  102  has one end  114  connected to the hub  106  and the second arm  104  has one end  116  rotatably connected to the hub  106 . Another end  118  of the first arm  102  includes a first or primary antenna  118  while the second arm  104  presents a second or secondary antenna at another end  120 . 
         [0036]    There is one cable that extends from the first antenna  122  through the passageway  108  to the hub  106 . Another cable extends from the second antenna  124  through the passageway  110  of the second arm  104  with the hub  106 . 
         [0037]    The first and second cables are subjected to torsional movement when the foldable device  100  is moved between the compact and extended positions. The cables in one embodiment are coiled within the space  112  of hub  6  and extended back through a passageway  126  presented by the extension  128 . 
         [0038]    Accordingly the rotatable GPS compass  100  presents a first and second arm  102  and  104  which are stacked one upon the other in the compact position and where the first and second arms  102  and  104  extend in a first linear or azimuth direction  130 . Arms  102  and  104  include indicia  132  and  134  comprising arrows that point to the azimuth direction  130 . 
         [0039]    The rotatability of the arms  102  and  104  reduce the size of storage and shipping of the device  100 . The rotation or articulation of the device  100  has a number of pre-selected positions which shall be described herein. 
         [0040]    During articulation of the segments or arms  102  and  104  from the compact position to the extended position the cable is subjected a “torsional” (i.e. twisting or rotating about an axis) movement, namely torsional load, or torsional bending between the compact and extended positions. If the cable was bent back and forth upon itself it would impact on the accuracy of the system because of the degradation of the cable. The design described herein minimizes the degradation of the cables. 
         [0041]    Furthermore, the arms  102  and  104  cover the cable. In other words, the cable is not exposed to the environment and thereby ensures a long lasting reliable accurate system. 
         [0042]    Moreover the hub  106  is disposed between the first and second arms  102  and  104  in the extended position. 
         [0043]    The first and second arms  102  and  104  and hub  106  are carried by an extension  128  that includes at one end thereof the hub  106  and at another end thereof the housing  136  for placement or housing of a control circuits at another end  138  of the extension  128 . The extension  128  includes at least one passageway or channel  140  which communicate with the hub so that the cables can extend from the hub  106  to the control means  138  by means of the passageways  140 . In one embodiment as shown in  FIG. 3  there are two passageways  140   a  and  140   b  which accommodate each of the cables that extend from the first and second antennas  122  and  124  through the passageways  108  and  110  into the space  112  of hub  106  toward the control means  136 . In one embodiment the antennas  122  and  124  are spaced 0.5 metres from one another although different dimensions can be utilized within the scope of the invention. 
         [0044]    During articulation of the foldable GPS compass, the first and second cables are subjected to torsional and or flexing movement. In one embodiment the cables are coiled within the hub  106  thereby prevention or minimizing degradation of the cables due to bending, or flexing. 
         [0045]      FIG. 3  illustrates that the GPS compass  100  in the extended position can be rotated or displaced through a left position as shown which according to the azimuth direction  130  represents −90 degree to the antenna. 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  illustrates that the GPS compass in the extended right position can be rotated or displaced +90 degrees to the antenna relative to the azimuth direction. 
         [0047]    In order to securely place or position the antenna into the desired orientations the GPS antenna  100  includes herewith a detent means  150  which in one embodiment can comprise first and second concentric annular rings or discs  152  and  154 . One of the discs  152  and  154  includes recess means  156  while the other disc  154  includes moveable extension means  158  adapted to engage the recess means  156 . The recess means  156  and extension means  158  can be disposed at 90 degree increments as shown in  FIG. 8 . However other orientations are possible within the scope of the invention as described herein. In another embodiment the recess means  156  could be molded into the arms  102 , 104 . 
         [0048]    More particularly the recess means  156  can comprise sloped surfaces  160   a  and  160   b  that permit corresponding sloped surfaces  162   a  and  162   b  of extension means  150   a  to ride against. In one embodiment the extension means  158  include fingers or extensions  164   a  and  164   b  that include a pair of engaged gear protrusions  166   a  and  166   b  that are adapted to engage one another as the protrusion  164   a  and  164   b  flex inwardly towards space  168  as the fingers or extensions  164   a  and  164   b  are pushed into the direction of arrow B. One of the rings  152  will be stationary within the hub  106  while another ring  154  is adapted to rotate relative to the other ring  150 . In one embodiment the ring  152  includes a plurality of stops  170  for placement within the space  112 . The moveable ring or disc  154  also includes an extension  172  which engages an appropriate stop within the housing  106  so that the disc or ring  154  has a limited rotational orbit within the space  112 . In other words the first and second arms  102  and  104  are designed to move to the position as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4  with the assistance of the detent means  150  as described above. The stops prevent the GPS compass  100  from over rotating, which would create excessive rotating of the cables within the hub  106 . More particularly the stop means establishes limits on the flexing of the cables and ensures the arms  102 , 104  are returned to the stowed or compact position by rotating in the opposite direction to where it is extended. 
         [0049]    The rotational GPS compass  100  illustrates that one of the arms  102  and  104  includes another annular disc  180  disclosed in the hub  106  which includes a stop means engageable with an annular groove presented by one of the arms for selectively positioning the arm in an pre-selected position. The other arm includes a plurality of stacked annular discs carrying stop means for selectively positioning the other arm in preselected positions. 
         [0050]    More particularly the shorter arm  102  includes a three washer or disc stack  180  which are concentrically disposed about an axis of rotation in hub  106 . A top washer or disc  182  has at least one inward pointing key way tang  184  and an outer downward bent interlock tang  186  that engages with appropriate surfaces within the hub  106  as shown. Furthermore the tang  186  when rotated engages the stop  193  of interstitial ring  194  during rotation. Furthermore rotation of the interstitial ring  194  will present stop edge  195  to engage tang  192 . The stacked rings can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. A bottom annular disc or washer  188  includes four outwardly facing arm body tabs  190  and one inner upward bent interlocking tang  192 . 
         [0051]    The other arm  104  or long arm includes another washer or disc  196 . The disc  196  includes outer downward bent interlock tang  186  which will ride in a groove in the arm body and will stop at either end of the groove that represents the limits of the orbital swing of the device as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 . 
         [0052]    The extension  128  includes a connecting flange  200  which can be used to connect the GPS compass to an antenna. For example the flange  200  can be connected to applicant&#39;s connecting device or universal bracket as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/059865. The flange  200  includes channel  202  to connect with channels located on the connecting device disclosed in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/059,865 so that the GPS compass can be utilized to connect the GPS compass  100 . 
         [0053]    In particular, the Universal Bracket or connecting device disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/059805 can be disposed at different angles, for example at 90 degrees to one another to orient the device at different intervals of, for example, 90 degrees. The mating grooves in the Universal Bracket has multiple grooves that allow forward, side and rear-facing surveys. The fastening means  204  locks two plates together during the survey. Such orientation is taken into account by the control means  136  as well as a display  206 . 
         [0054]    A portable receiving device  80  includes means for sending a wireless signal to the control means  136  to adjust at least one of the azimuth, tilt and row positions of the antenna. 
         [0055]    The invention as described herein relates to a method of installing GPS compass  100  onto an antenna (not shown) comprising: 
         [0056]    (a) moving a segmented GPS compass into a compact position; 
         [0057]    (b)connecting one end of the compact GPS compass onto an antenna tower; and 
         [0058]    (c) rotatably extending the segments and GPS compass so that each of the segments are in an azimuth direction. 
         [0059]    The method also includes activating the wireless communication means  50  carried by the extended GPS compass  100  so as to communicate with a portable device  80 . The portable device  80  can be utilized to adjust the azimuth, tilt and/or roll of the antenna by communicating with the wireless communicating device. 
         [0060]    The structural elements of the GPS compass can comprise of a number of materials such as aluminum or the like. The material covering the antenna elements  122  and  124  must permit radiation in order for the satellite signal to be received by the GPS antenna elements underneath. In one embodiment the material can comprise of polycarbonate or other plastic that does not block RF signals. Furthermore the interstitial annular ring can be made from a variety of materials including plastic or the like.