Patent Description:
Embodiments of the subject matter described herein relate generally to an apparatus, device, or system used to mount a first component to a second component. For example, embodiments of a mounting apparatus can be utilized to mount a transceiver radio unit (RU) of a cellular communication system base station to another component or support structure. More particularly, embodiments of the mounting apparatus are configured to be universally compatible with RUs manufactured by different vendors such that the RUs can be quickly and easily mounted to a component, such as an antenna of the base station.

A cellular communication system includes base stations (also known as cell sites) distributed throughout a geographical region. A base station includes equipment such as an antenna, mounting and support structure, one or more transceiver radio units (RUs), and the like. In some deployments, an RU can be mounted to the housing, frame, or shell of an antenna. A cellular system provider usually has control over the specifications and dimensions of its antenna components and related support architecture. In contrast, however, a cellular system provider may source the RUs from different vendors or manufacturers. Consequently, the system provider may have little to no control over the design, configuration, dimensions, and/or mounting features of sources RUs. Accordingly, different RUs may, but need not, be compatible with the mounting features and specifications of the antenna components. Mounting incompatibilities can present significant challenges, require custom mounting hardware, and/or require additional installation time in the field. Examples of mounting hardware for mounting electronic equipment and cellular antenna are described in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

A first aspect of the present invention relates to a universal mounting apparatus according to claim <NUM>.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a system comprising the universal mounting apparatus of claim <NUM>.

Embodiments shown in <FIG> are not encompassed by the wording of the claims but are considered as useful for understanding the invention.

Certain terminology may be used in the following description for the purpose of reference only, and thus are not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as "upper", "lower", "above", and "below" refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as "front", "back", "rear", "side", "outboard", and "inboard" describe the orientation and/or location of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Similarly, the terms "first", "second", and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context.

It should be understood that various aspects disclosed herein may be combined in different ways than the arrangements specifically presented in the description and accompanying drawings.

The subject matter disclosed here relates to a "universal" mounting apparatus that facilitates mounting of a first component (e.g., the mounted component) to a second component (e.g., the supporting component). Embodiments of the mounting apparatus can be designed and configured to accommodate mounting of various types of components to various types of support structures. In accordance with the non-limiting examples shown and described here, the mounting apparatus accommodates the mounting of a transceiver RU of a cellular communication system to an antenna structure of the cellular communication system. It should be appreciated that embodiments of the mounting apparatus can be specifically designed for compatibility with other applications, deployments, mountable components, and support structures.

<FIG> is a perspective view that depicts an RU <NUM>, a section of an antenna structure <NUM>, and a guide rail system <NUM> of the antenna structure. The guide rail system <NUM> is configured and arranged for mounting the RU <NUM> to the antenna structure <NUM>. <FIG> depicts the RU <NUM> in an initial position during installation. Although hidden from view in <FIG>, the RU <NUM> includes or cooperates with roller wheels (or any suitably configured device, fixture, or feature that is compatible with the guide rail system <NUM>) that slide within channels defined in the individual guides of the guide rail system <NUM>. In <FIG>, the roller wheels of the RU <NUM> allow the RU <NUM> to slide to the right until the RU <NUM> is positioned in its final mounting location. The guide rail system <NUM> supports the weight of the RU <NUM>, and holds the RU <NUM> in the proper location, which may be necessary to establish and maintain certain mechanical and/or electrical connections between the RU <NUM> and the antenna structure <NUM>. After the RU <NUM> is installed in the desired position, it can be secured or locked in place such that it cannot slide within the guide rail system <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an alternative arrangement that does not utilize a guide rail system. <FIG> is a perspective view that depicts an RU <NUM>, a section of an antenna structure <NUM>, and a fastener system <NUM> for mounting the RU <NUM> to the antenna structure <NUM>. The fastener system <NUM> may include threaded bolts or studs extending from the mounting surface of the antenna structure <NUM>, which mate with holes, slots, keyholes, or voids formed in the RU <NUM> or formed in a mounting plate secured to the RU <NUM>. This allows the RU <NUM> to be hung on the extending bolts and secured to the antenna structure <NUM> using nuts, lugs, or locks. The fastener system <NUM> supports the weight of the RU <NUM>, and holds the RU <NUM> in the proper location, which may be necessary to establish and maintain certain mechanical and/or electrical connections between the RU <NUM> and the antenna structure <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view that shows a portion of an RU <NUM>, a support structure <NUM>, and a mounting bracket <NUM>. The mounting bracket <NUM> is bolted to the support structure <NUM>. The mounting bracket <NUM> includes offset flanges <NUM> that function to keep the RU <NUM> a certain distance away from the support structure <NUM>. In this regard, the flanges <NUM> are offset away from the surface of the support structure <NUM>. Each flange <NUM> has a threaded fastener <NUM> extending in the direction away from the support structure <NUM>. The threaded fastener <NUM> fits inside a slot, keyhole <NUM>, or suitably configured void that is formed in the housing of the RU <NUM> (or formed in a mounting plate or element that is attached to the RU <NUM>). The arrangement depicted in <FIG> could be used as the fastener system <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an RU <NUM> mounted to a portion of an antenna structure <NUM>. In <FIG>, the RU <NUM> is mounted to the antenna structure <NUM> using a guide rail system <NUM>. Although only one RU <NUM> is depicted in <FIG>, the guide rail system <NUM> may be designed to accommodate installation of two or more RUs on the antenna structure <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the back side of the RU <NUM>. For the illustrated example, the RU <NUM> includes two parallel rows of roller wheels <NUM> affixed directly to the back side of the RU <NUM>. The roller wheels <NUM> must be arranged for compatibility with the positions of the two guide rails of the antenna structure <NUM>. Consequently, the antenna structure <NUM> and the RU <NUM> must be cooperatively designed and manufactured according to consistent specifications.

The embodiments of the mounting apparatus presented here include mounting features that are "RU agnostic" in that the mounting apparatus can be attached to different RU components (which may be manufactured by different suppliers/vendors, and which may have mounting holes, mounting inserts, fasteners, and/or mounting features arranged in different layouts, patterns, or orientations). Accordingly, the universal mounting apparatus disclosed here is compatible with a variety of different RU components, and serves as an interface between an RU component and its support structure. This description assumes that the mounting features of the support structure (e.g., guide rails, threaded inserts, threaded fasteners, keyholes, slots, or the like) are arranged in a known, specified, fixed, or standardized layout such that the universal mounting apparatus includes a simple design for purposes of mating with the support structure. In certain embodiments, however, the universal mounting apparatus can be configured to accommodate a variety of different support structure designs. In other words, the universal mounting apparatus can be both RU agnostic and support structure agnostic if so desired.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an example of a universal mounting apparatus <NUM> having keyhole mounting features. <FIG> shows the rear/back of only a portion of the mounting apparatus <NUM>. The rear/back side of the mounting apparatus <NUM> faces the support structure (not shown); the front side of the mounting apparatus <NUM> faces the RU (not shown). The depicted example includes a universal mounting plate <NUM>, offset flanges <NUM>, and keyholes <NUM> formed in the offset flanges <NUM>. Although not always required, each flange <NUM> includes two keyholes <NUM> formed therein. The mounting plate <NUM> may also include a similar arrangement of flanges <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) at the opposite end. In other words, the left side of the mounting plate <NUM> (which is hidden from view in <FIG>) may include two offset flanges <NUM>, each having two keyholes <NUM>. The front side of the mounting plate <NUM> includes slots, holes, and/or openings arranged in a pattern or layout that contemplates and is compatible with different possible fastener positions of available RU components. In this regard, the layout of slots, holes, and/or openings is compatible with a variety of different fastener locations and, therefore, the mounting plate <NUM> is RU agnostic. The mounting plate <NUM> and the flanges <NUM> may be integrally formed as a one-piece component, or they can be fabricated as two physically distinct parts that are attached, coupled, or otherwise affixed to each other.

<FIG> includes plan (<FIG>), front (<FIG>), side (<FIG>), and back (<FIG>) views of an example of a universal mounting apparatus <NUM> having keyhole mounting features. Although <FIG> does not include a rear perspective view, <FIG> is a rear perspective view of a similar mounting apparatus. Referring to <FIG>, the mounting apparatus <NUM> generally includes, without limitation: a universal mounting plate <NUM> that defines the front surface or portion of the mounting apparatus <NUM>; holes <NUM> formed in the mounting plate <NUM>; offset flanges <NUM> that run vertically in the front, side, and back views of <FIG>; and holes <NUM> (e.g., slots or keyholes) formed in the offset flanges <NUM>. The holes <NUM> are arranged in an appropriate pattern or array that is intended to accommodate a plurality of different RU fastener locations, as explained above. The holes <NUM> are generally arranged in an upper and lower array, although the holes <NUM> could be formed and distributed throughout the entirety of the mounting plate <NUM>. The offset flanges <NUM> protrude from the back side of the mounting plate <NUM>, such that the RU will be offset from the support structure after installation. See, for example, <FIG>, which depicts similar keyhole flanges extending from the back side of the mounting plate. The universal nature of the holes <NUM> allows the mounting apparatus <NUM> to compatibly mount to the RU component using, for example, threaded fasteners. Thereafter, the RU component can be mounted to the support structure (e.g., antenna structure) using the holes <NUM>. Thereafter, the RU component can be secured to the support structure using nuts, clips, locks, clamps, or the like.

<FIG> includes plan (<FIG>), front (<FIG>), side (<FIG>), and back (<FIG>) views of an example of a universal mounting apparatus <NUM> having a roller guide mounting feature. Although <FIG> does not include a rear perspective view, <FIG> is a rear perspective view of a similar mounting apparatus. Referring to <FIG>, the mounting apparatus <NUM> generally includes, without limitation: a universal mounting plate <NUM> that defines the front surface or portion of the mounting apparatus <NUM>; holes <NUM> formed in the mounting plate <NUM>; and offset roller assemblies <NUM> that run horizontally in the front, plan, and back views of <FIG>. The holes <NUM> are arranged in an appropriate pattern or array that is intended to accommodate a plurality of different RU fastener locations, as explained above. The holes <NUM> are generally arranged in an upper and lower array, although the holes <NUM> could be formed and distributed throughout the entirety of the mounting plate <NUM>. Each offset roller assembly <NUM> includes one or more rollers <NUM>, preferably a plurality of rollers <NUM> arranged in a line. The example shown in <FIG> utilizes five rollers <NUM> per roller assembly <NUM>, although more or less than five could be used. The offset roller assemblies <NUM> protrude from the back side of the mounting plate <NUM>, such that the RU will be spaced away from the support structure after installation. See, for example, <FIG>, which depicts similar roller assemblies extending from the back side of the mounting plate. The universal nature of the holes <NUM> allows the mounting apparatus <NUM> to compatibly mount to the RU component using, for example, threaded fasteners. Thereafter, the RU component can be mounted to the support structure (e.g., antenna structure) by sliding the rollers <NUM> into compatibly configured and spaced apart guide rails located on the support structure (see <FIG>). Thereafter, the RU component can be secured to the guide rails using nuts, clips, locks, clamps, a locking plate, levers, or the like.

<FIG> includes plan (<FIG>), front (<FIG>), and side (<FIG>) views of an example of a guide rail <NUM> that is compatible with the universal mounting apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Two instances of the guide rail <NUM> are attached to (or integrated with) the support structure, and arranged in parallel at the desired spacing for compatibility with the spacing of the roller assemblies <NUM>. The guide rail <NUM> includes holes <NUM>, at least one slot, or other feature that accommodates mounting hardware to secure the guide rail <NUM> to the support structure, e.g., an antenna component. The guide rail <NUM> includes locking elements <NUM> (one for each end) to lock the rollers <NUM> in place after mounting the RU to the support structure. For example, the locking elements <NUM> may include a fastener, such as a bolt, an endcap or end plate, a latch, or the like. When installed as shown in <FIG>, the locking elements <NUM> prevent the roller assembly <NUM> from sliding within the guide rail <NUM>. Thus, the locking elements <NUM> retain the RU in its mounted position.

<FIG> is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a universal mounting apparatus <NUM> having a keyhole mounting feature and an adjustable mounting plate. <FIG> includes plan (<FIG>), front (<FIG>), rear (<FIG>), and side (<FIG>) views of the universal mounting apparatus <NUM>. The mounting apparatus <NUM> generally includes, without limitation: an adjustable universal mounting plate <NUM> that defines the front surface or portion of the mounting apparatus <NUM>; holes <NUM> or openings formed in the mounting plate <NUM>; at least one offset upper flange <NUM>; at least one offset lower flange <NUM>; and holes <NUM> (e.g., slots or keyholes) formed in the offset flanges <NUM>, <NUM>. The holes <NUM> are arranged in an appropriate pattern or array that is intended to accommodate a plurality of different RU fastener locations, as explained above. An upper array of holes <NUM> may be formed in an upper portion 502A of the mounting plate <NUM> (e.g., one mounting plate section), and a lower array of holes <NUM> is formed in a lower portion 502B of the mounting plate (e.g., another mounting plate section). The two arrays may include the same or different patterns of openings. The offset flanges <NUM>, <NUM> protrude from the back side of the mounting plate <NUM>, such that the RU will be offset from the support structure after installation.

In contrast to the mounting apparatus <NUM> depicted in <FIG> (which includes a fixed or stationary mounting plate <NUM>), the mounting plate <NUM> of the mounting apparatus <NUM> is slidably adjustable, such that the two respective mounting plates are couplable to each other. In this regard, the upper portion 502A and/or the lower portion 502B can move in at least one dimension relative to the other. In accordance with the illustrated example, the upper portion 502A is slidably adjustable relative to the lower portion 502B. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the upper and lower portions 502A, 502B include adjustment slots <NUM> that are shaped and sized to accommodate retaining elements or adjustment fasteners, such as threaded fasteners. When the fasteners are loosened, the upper portion 502A can be moved up and down relative to the lower portion 502B. When the fasteners are tightened, the position of the upper portion 502A is locked, relative to the lower portion 502B. Accordingly, at least one adjustment fastener is accommodated by at least one adjustment slot to facilitate slidable adjustment of the upper portion 502A relative to the lower portion 502B. This increases the flexibility and compatibility of the mounting plate <NUM>. Although not shown, a universal mounting apparatus of the type disclosed here may be adjustable in a plurality of directions (e.g., vertically, horizontally, diagonally, etc.), and may have any number of degrees of freedom. Furthermore, examples of the mounting apparatus <NUM> may be configured such that the positions of the holes <NUM> are adjustable in at least one dimension.

<FIG> is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a universal mounting apparatus <NUM> having a guide rail mounting feature (e.g., a roller guide) and an adjustable mounting plate, and <FIG> includes plan (<FIG>), front (<FIG>), rear (<FIG>), and side (<FIG>) views of the universal mounting apparatus <NUM>. The mounting apparatus <NUM> generally includes, without limitation: an adjustable universal mounting plate <NUM> that defines the front surface or portion of the mounting apparatus <NUM>; holes <NUM> or openings formed in the mounting plate <NUM>; at least one offset upper flange <NUM>; at least one offset lower flange <NUM>; and rollers <NUM> or equivalent gliding or sliding features formed in the offset flanges <NUM>, <NUM>. In practice, the mounting apparatus may include one elongated upper flange instead of two small flanges as shown. Moreover, more than two rollers <NUM> can be used for each row (upper and lower). The holes <NUM> are arranged in an appropriate pattern or array that is intended to accommodate a plurality of different RU fastener locations, as explained above. In certain embodiments, an upper array of holes <NUM> is formed in an upper portion 602A of the mounting plate <NUM>, and a lower array of holes <NUM> is formed in a lower portion 602B of the mounting plate <NUM>. The two arrays may include the same or different patterns of openings. The offset flanges <NUM>, <NUM> protrude from the back side of the mounting plate <NUM>, such that the RU will be offset from the support structure after installation.

In contrast to the mounting apparatus <NUM> depicted in <FIG> (which includes a one-piece, fixed or stationary mounting plate <NUM>), the mounting plate <NUM> of the mounting apparatus <NUM> is slidably adjustable, such that the two respective mounting plates are couplable to each other. In this regard, the upper portion 602A and/or the lower portion 602B can move in at least one dimension relative to the other. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion 602A is slidably adjustable relative to the lower portion 602B. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the upper and lower portions 602A, 602B include adjustment slots <NUM> that are shaped and sized to accommodate retaining elements or adjustment fasteners, such as threaded fasteners. When the fasteners are loosened, the upper portion 602A can be moved up and down relative to the lower portion 602B. When the fasteners are tightened, the position of the upper portion 602A is locked, relative to the lower portion 602B. Accordingly, at least one adjustment fastener is accommodated by at least one adjustment slot to facilitate slidable adjustment of the upper portion 602A relative to the lower portion 602B. This increases the flexibility and compatibility of the mounting plate <NUM>. Although not shown, a universal mounting apparatus of the type disclosed here may be adjustable in a plurality of directions (e.g., vertically, horizontally, diagonally, etc.), and may have any number of degrees of freedom. Furthermore, embodiments of the mounting apparatus <NUM> may be configured such that the positions of the rollers <NUM> are adjustable in at least one dimension.

<FIG> is a front perspective view of an embodiment of an adjustable mounting plate <NUM> suitable for use with a universal mounting apparatus (with the adjustable portion in a lowered position), and <FIG> is a front view of the adjustable mounting plate <NUM> (with the adjustable portion in a raised position). The mounting plate <NUM> includes one pattern of holes in the slidable upper portion, and a different pattern of holes in the lower portion. These and other hole patterns can be utilized in the mounting plates disclosed here. Moreover, the slidable upper portion may include two or more physically distinct sections (with patterns of openings) that are adjustable in at least one dimension relative to each other. Similarly, the lower portion may include two or more physically distinct sections (with patterns of openings) that are adjustable in at least one dimension relative to each other. <FIG> is a front perspective view of an RU <NUM> mounted to the adjustable mounting plate <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The corresponding support structure is not shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows components of a mounting system that utilizes vertical guide channels and slidable lock elements. <FIG> is a front perspective view of a section of a support structure <NUM> with two vertical guide rails <NUM>, and <FIG> is a top view of the support structure <NUM>. <FIG> is a front view of a mounting assembly <NUM>, and <FIG> is a top view of the mounting assembly <NUM>. <FIG> is a front view of two RUs mounted to a support structure by way of a mounting system that utilizes vertical guide channels.

For the illustrated implementation, two vertical guide rails <NUM> are attached to (or integrated with) the support structure <NUM>. The guide rails <NUM> are spaced apart by a specified distance for compatibility with the spacing of corresponding mounting fixtures <NUM> located on the RUs <NUM>. Each guide rail <NUM> defines a slot or a channel that receives at least one of the mounting fixtures <NUM>. The mounting fixtures <NUM> may, for example, resemble a bolt head that is latching, lockable, or otherwise movable from an unlocked position to a locked position.

Claim 1:
A universal mounting apparatus (<NUM>) configured to mount a transceiver radio unit (<NUM>,<NUM>) to an antenna structure (<NUM>,<NUM>) of a cellular communication system, the universal mounting apparatus comprising:
a first mounting plate (602B) having features (<NUM>,<NUM>) configured to be compatible with a guide rail system (<NUM>) of the antenna structure, the features configured to slide within channels defined in the guide rail system;
at least one adjustment slot (<NUM>) formed in the first mounting plate;
a second mounting plate (602A) coupled to the first mounting plate;
openings (<NUM>) formed in the second mounting plate (602A), a set of the openings arranged in a first pattern such that they are compatible with plural different mounting fastener locations for different transceiver radio unit types; and
at least one adjustment fastener configured to facilitate slidable adjustment of the second mounting plate relative to the first mounting plate, wherein the at least one adjustment slot of the first mounting plate and at least one further opening of the second mounting plate accommodate the at least one adjustment fastener;
wherein, when the at least one adjustment fastener is configured to be loosened, position of the second mounting plate is movable relative to the first mounting plate;
wherein, when the at least one adjustment fastener is configured to be tightened, position of the second mounting plate is locked relative to the first mounting plate.