Directional indicator for antennas
A system for receiving a communication signal includes an antenna that can be coupled to a subscriber terminal, a compass secured to the antenna, the compass adapted to measure an orientation of the antenna, a memory unit for storing data associated with a desired mounting configuration of the antenna, and a processor, the processor configured to generate a signal based on the measured orientation and the data stored in the memory unit. A device for installing an antenna includes a structure attachable to the antenna, a compass secured to the structure, the compass adapted to measure an orientation of the antenna, a memory unit for storing data associated with a desired mounting configuration of the antenna, and a processor, the processor configured to generate a signal based on the measured orientation and the data stored in the memory unit.
1 . A system for receiving a communication signal, the system comprising:
an antenna that can be coupled to a subscriber terminal;
a compass secured to the antenna, the compass being adapted to measure an orientation of the antenna;
a memory unit for storing data associated with a desired mounting configuration of the antenna; and
a processor coupled to the compass and the memory unit, the processor configured to generate a signal based on a measured orientation of the antenna by the compass and data stored in the memory unit.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the data is associated with a desired azimuth angle of the antenna.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the signal when a measured azimuth angle of the antenna is substantially the same as, or within a prescribed threshold from, the desired azimuth angle of the antenna.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the signal when a measured azimuth angle of the antenna is not substantially the same as, or beyond a prescribed threshold from, the desired azimuth angle of the antenna.
5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator configured to receive the signal from the processor.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the indicator comprises a light source for generating an optical signal in response to the signal generated by the processor.
7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the indicator comprises an audio source for generating an audio signal in response to the signal generated by the processor.
8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the indicator is configured to emit a signal when an orientation of the antenna is substantially the same as, or within a prescribed threshold from, a desired orientation of the antenna.
9 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the indicator is configured to emit a signal when an orientation of the antenna is not substantially the same as, or beyond a prescribed threshold from, a desired orientation of the antenna.
10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tilt sensor secured to the antenna, the tilt sensor adapted to measure an elevation angle of the antenna;
wherein the processor is coupled to the tilt sensor, and the processor is further configured to generate a signal based on a measured elevation angle of the antenna and data stored in the memory unit.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the stored data comprises data associated with a desired elevation angle of the antenna.
12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a positional sensor secured to the antenna, the positional sensor adapted to measure a position of the antenna;
wherein the processor is coupled to the positional sensor, and the processor is further configured to generate a signal based on a measured position of the antenna and data stored in the memory unit.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the data stored in the memory unit comprises data associated with a desired position of the antenna.
14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a digital signal processor for processing radio frequency signal received by the antenna;
wherein the processor is coupled to the digital signal processor and is configured to generate a signal based on a processed radio frequency signal.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the signal when the processed radio frequency signal has a desirable quality.
16 . A device for installing an antenna, comprising:
a structure attachable to the antenna;
a compass secured to the structure, the compass being adapted to measure an orientation of the antenna;
a memory unit for storing data associated with a desired mounting configuration of the antenna; and
a processor coupled to the compass and the memory unit, the processor configured to generate a signal based on a measured orientation of the antenna by the compass and data stored in the memory unit.
17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the data is associated with a desired azimuth angle of the antenna.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the signal when a measured azimuth angle of the antenna is substantially the same as, or within a prescribed threshold from, the desired azimuth angle of the antenna.
19 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the signal when a measured azimuth angle of the antenna is not substantially the same as, or beyond a prescribed threshold from, the desired azimuth angle of the antenna.
20 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising an indicator configured to receive the signal from processor.
21 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the indicator comprises a light source for generating an optical signal in response to the signal generated by the processor.
22 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the indicator comprises an audio source for generating an audio signal in response to the signal generated by the processor.
23 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the indicator is configured to emit a signal when an orientation of the antenna is substantially the same as, or within a prescribed threshold from, a desired orientation of the antenna.
24 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the indicator is configured to emit a signal when an orientation of the antenna is not substantially the same as, or beyond a prescribed threshold from, a desired orientation of the antenna.
25 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising:
a tilt sensor secured to the antenna, the tilt sensor adapted to measure an elevation angle of the antenna;
wherein the processor is coupled to the tilt sensor, and the processor is further configured to generate a signal based on a measured elevation angle of the antenna and data stored in the memory unit.
26 . The device of claim 25 , wherein the memory unit comprises data associated with a desired elevation angle of the antenna.
27 . The device of claim 17 , further comprising:
a positional sensor secured to the antenna, the positional sensor adapted to measure a position of the antenna;
wherein the processor is coupled to the positional sensor, and the processor is further configured to generate a signal based on a measured position of the antenna and a stored data in the memory unit.
28 . The device of claim 27 , wherein the memory unit comprises data associated with a desired position of the antenna.
29 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising:
a digital signal processor for processing radio frequency signal received by the antenna;
wherein the processor is coupled to the digital signal processor and is configured to generate a signal based on a processed radio frequency signal.
30 . The device of claim 29 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the signal when the processed radio frequency signal has a desirable quality.
31 . A device for processing data associated with an installation of an antenna, the device comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:
receive an input associated with a measured orientation of an antenna;
compare the input with data associated with a desired mounting configuration of the antenna; and
generate a signal based on the comparing.
32 . The device of claim 31 , wherein the processor is further configured to read the data from a memory unit.
33 . The device of claim 31 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the input from a circuit based compass.
34 . The device of claim 33 , wherein the measured orientation of the antenna comprises an azimuth angle of the antenna, and the desired mounting configuration of the antenna comprises a desired azimuth angle of the antenna.
35 . The device of claim 34 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the signal when a measured azimuth angle of the antenna is substantially the same as, or within a prescribed threshold from, the desired azimuth angle of the antenna.
36 . The device of claim 34 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the signal when a measured azimuth angle of the antenna is not substantially the same as, or beyond a prescribed threshold from, the desired azimuth angle of the antenna.
37 . The device of claim 31 , wherein the processor is configured to receive an input from a tilt sensor.
38 . The device of claim 37 , wherein the measured orientation of the antenna comprises an elevation angle of the antenna, and the desired mounting configuration of the antenna comprises a desired elevation angle of the antenna.
39 . The device of claim 38 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the signal when a measured elevation angle of the antenna is substantially the same as, or within a prescribed threshold from, the desired elevation angle of the antenna.
40 . The device of claim 38 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the signal when a measured elevation angle of the antenna is not substantially the same as, or beyond a prescribed threshold from, the desired elevation angle of the antenna.
41 . The device of claim 31 , wherein the processor is configured to receive an input from a digital signal processor, and generate the signal when an input from the digital signal processor indicates that a radio frequency signal received by the antenna has a desirable quality.
42 . A system for receiving a communication signal, comprising:
an antenna that can be coupled to a subscriber terminal; and
a compass fixedly secured to the antenna, the compass being adapted to measure an orientation of the antenna.
43 . The system of claim 42 , wherein the compass is a circuit-based compass.
44 . A method of installing an antenna, comprising:
securing the antenna to a structure, the antenna carrying a feedback device that provides a signal based on an orientation of the antenna and a desired mounting configuration of the antenna;
adjusting a position or orientation of the antenna based on the signal or an absence of the signal.
45 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the orientation of the antenna comprises an azimuth angle of the antenna, and the desired mounting configuration comprises a desired azimuth angle of the antenna.
46 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the orientation of the antenna comprises an elevation angle of the antenna, and the desired mounting configuration comprises a desired elevation angle of the antenna.
47 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the signal comprises an optical signal and the adjusting comprises positioning or orienting the antenna based on the optical signal.
48 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the signal comprises a termination of an optical signal, and the adjusting comprises positioning or orienting the antenna until the optical signal is terminated.
49 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the signal comprises an audio signal and the adjusting comprises positioning or orienting the antenna based on the audio signal.
50 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the signal comprises a termination of an audio signal, and the adjusting comprises positioning or orienting the antenna until the audio signal is terminated.
51 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the signal comprises a text message and the adjusting comprises positioning or orienting the antenna based on the text message.
52 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the adjusting comprises changing an elevation angle of the antenna.
53 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the adjusting comprises changing an azimuth angle of the antenna.
54 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the antenna further carrying a memory unit, and the method further comprising inputting data associated with the desired mounting configuration of the antenna to the memory unit.
55 . A method of initializing a feedback device secured to an antenna, the feedback device having a memory unit, the method comprising:
inputting data associated with a desired mounting configuration of the antenna to the memory unit.
56 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the data comprises a desired orientation of the antenna.
57 . The method of claim 56 , wherein the desired orientation comprises a desired azimuth angle of the antenna.
58 . The method of claim 56 , wherein the desired orientation comprises an elevation angle of the antenna.
59 . The method of claim 56 , further comprising determining the desired orientation of the antenna.
60 . The method of claim 59 , wherein the determining the desired orientation of the antenna comprises:
determining a position of a base station from which signal is to be received by the antenna;
determining a position of the structure to which the antenna is to be secured; and
determining a desired azimuth angle of the antenna based on the positions of the base station and the structure.
61 . The method of claim 59 , wherein the determining the desired orientation of the antenna comprises:
determining a distance between a base station from which signal is to be received by the antenna and a position of the structure to which the antenna is to be secured;
determining a relative vertical distance between the antenna and the base station;
determining a desired elevation angle of the antenna based on the distance and the relative vertical distance.
62 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the data comprises information associated with a base station from which signal can be received by the antenna.