Antenna mounting system for metallic structures

Abstract

An antenna mounting system includes a metal plate having a void formed therein and one or more continuous slots extending from the void to an edge of the metal plate. An antenna is mounted inside the void.

Claims

1. An antenna mounting system comprising: an enclosure having an opening; an antenna; a metal plate mounted over the opening of the enclosure, the metal plate defining a plane and having a void formed therein, the void surrounding the antenna and separating the antenna from the metal plate, the metal plate having a slot extending from an inner edge of the metal plate defining the void to a first edge of an outer periphery of the metal plate, the slot preventing the metal plate from being a radiator; and a ferrite shield covering a surface of the antenna facing a rear wall of the enclosure.

2. The antenna mounting system of claim 1 further including a non-conductive antenna cover over an upper surface of the metal plate.

3. The antenna mounting system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is formed from a metal.

4. The antenna mounting system of claim 3 further comprising a non-conductive gasket disposed between an upper edge of the enclosure and the metal plate.

5. The antenna mounting system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is formed from a non-conductive material.

6. The antenna mounting system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is mounted behind the plane of the metal plate and separated from the metal plate.

7. The antenna mounting system of claim 6 further including a non-conductive antenna cover over an upper surface of the metal plate.

8. The antenna mounting system of claim 6 wherein linear dimensions in x and y directions of the void are larger than linear dimensions in x and y directions of the antenna.

9. The antenna mounting system of claim 6 wherein linear dimensions in x and y directions of the void are smaller than linear dimensions in x and y directions of the antenna.

10. The antenna mounting system of claim 6 wherein linear dimensions in x and y directions of the void are essentially the same as linear dimensions in x and y directions of the antenna.

11. The antenna mounting system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is formed from a metal.

12. The antenna mounting system of claim 11 further comprising a non-conductive gasket disposed between an upper edge of the enclosure and the metal plate.

13. The antenna mounting system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is formed from a non-conductive material.

14. The antenna mounting system of claim 1 wherein side edges of the ferrite shield extend around side edges of the antenna.

15. An antenna mounting system comprising: an enclosure having an opening; a solid metal plate; a ferrite shield mounted on the solid metal plate; an antenna mounted on the ferrite shield; and a metal plate mounted over and separated from the antenna, the metal plate having a void formed therein centered over the antenna, the metal plate having a slot extending from an inner edge of the metal plate defining the void to a first edge of an outer periphery of the metal plate, the slot preventing the metal plate from being a radiator; wherein the solid metal plate is mounted over the opening of the enclosure, the ferrite shield, the metal plate, and the antenna are mounted on the solid metal plate.

16. The antenna mounting system of claim 15 wherein linear dimensions in x and y directions of the void are smaller than linear dimensions in x and y directions of the antenna.

17. The antenna mounting system of claim 15 wherein linear dimensions of the void in x and y directions are essentially the same as linear dimensions in x and y directions of the antenna.

18. The antenna mounting system of claim 15 wherein side edges of the ferrite shield extend around side edges of the antenna.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a metal plate 10 including a rectangular void 12 and having a slot 14 formed therein and running from the circular void to the edge of the plate according to one aspect of the present invention. In an alternate embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, an additional slot 14a is shown in dashed lines. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that one or more such additional slots 18a may be provided at various locations on the metal plate 10. Providing additional slots 14a will segment the metal plate 10. In embodiments having more than one slot, the segments of the metal plate 10 may be mounted on a non-conducting substrate to provide dimensional stability.

(2) FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a metal plate 10 including a circular void 16 and having a slot 18 formed therein and running from the circular void to the edge of the plate according to another aspect of the present invention. The shape of the void is not critical to the functioning of the invention. In an alternate embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, an additional slot 18a is shown in dashed lines. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that one or more such additional slots 18a may be provided at various locations on the metal plate 10. Providing additional slots 18a will segment the metal plate 10. In embodiments having more than one slot, the segments of the metal plate 10 may be mounted on a non-conducting substrate to provide dimensional stability.

(3) FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an illustrative and non-limiting embodiment of the current industry practices for mounting antennas on a metal plate in which enclosure or mounting box 20 is covered by solid metal plate 22. A ferrite shield 24 is disposed over the metal plate 22 and an antenna 26 is disposed over the ferrite shield.

(4) FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another illustrative and non-limiting embodiment of the invention in which a metallic or non-metallic mounting box or enclosure 20 is covered by metal plate 28 including a void 30 with a slot running from the void 30 to the edge of the plate. FIGS. 1 and 2 show non-limiting examples of such a plate including the slot. An antenna 26 is disposed in the void over the metal plate 22.

(5) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another illustrative and non-limiting embodiment of the invention in which a non-metallic mounting box or enclosure 20 is covered by is covered by a metal plate 28 including a void 30 with a slot running from the void 30 to the edge of the plate. FIGS. 1 and 2 show non-limiting examples of such a plate including the slot. An antenna 26 is disposed in the enclosure 20 under the void in the metal plate 28. The void may be either larger, the same size, or smaller than the dimensions of the antenna. Employing an antenna 26 having dimensions larger than the dimensions of the void further protects the system from tampering and intrusion.

(6) FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another illustrative and non-limiting embodiment of the invention in which a metallic or non-metallic mounting box or enclosure 20 is covered by a metal plate 28 including a void 30 with a slot running from the void 30 to the edge of the plate. FIGS. 1 and 2 show non-limiting examples of such a plate including the slot. An antenna 26 is disposed in the enclosure 20 under the void. A ferrite shield 32 is disposed between the antenna 26 and the back and side walls of the enclosure. Employing an antenna 26 having dimensions larger than the dimensions of the void further protects the system from tampering and intrusion.

(7) In the embodiments of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 where the enclosure is formed from a metal, gasket 34 is disposed between the upper edges of the enclosure and the metal plate 28.

(8) FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another illustrative and non-limiting embodiment of the invention in which a metallic or non-metallic mounting box or enclosure 20 is covered by a solid metal plate 22. A ferrite shield 32 is disposed over the solid metal plate 22 and an antenna 26 is disposed over the ferrite shield. A metal plate 28 including a void 30 with a slot running from the void 30 to the edge of the plate is disposed over the antenna 26. Employing an antenna 26 having dimensions larger than the dimensions of the void further protects the system from tampering and intrusion.

(9) The various illustrative non-limiting embodiments of the invention shown herein have been disclosed in connection with an enclosure or mounting box. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that an enclosure is not necessary for practicing the invention. Actually, a plastic enclosure is the same as no enclosure. The assembly could simply be fastened to a wall without employing a mounting box or enclosure. In other embodiments, the assembly could be built into a piece of equipment without a separate enclosure for the antenna.

(10) While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.