A Radio Antenna Alignment Tool

Abstract

A radio antenna alignment tool (100) for aligning a first antenna with respect to at least a second antenna is disclosed. The tool comprises a sensor unit (120) disposed in connection to the first antenna (110) comprising means to determine a present direction of the first antenna (110). The radio antenna alignment tool (100) further comprises guiding means (130) adapted to receive, on a first input port, the present direction of the first directive antenna (110) from the sensor unit (120). The guiding means (130) is further arranged to indicate to a user at least one of: the present direction of the first directive antenna (110), the location of the second antenna, and a preferred direction of the first directive antenna, where said preferred direction of the first directive antenna is determined in order to maximize a signal quality metric for communication between the first directive antenna and at least the second antenna. The tool facilitates the alignment of the first directive radio antenna without the user having direct visual contact with the far end antenna.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present disclosure relates to alignment of directive radio antennas.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Directive radio antennas are antennas which concentrate radiated signal energy in one or several pre-determined directions in order to increase the transmitted signal power in that or those directions. The direction in which the most energy is radiated, i.e., the direction with highest antenna gain, is often referred to as the main lobe of the radio antenna. Due to reciprocity, antenna gain characteristics for transmission and reception are often similar in terms of antenna directivity. I.e., the direction of the transmit main lobe as a rule coincides with the direction of the receive main lobe. Examples of directive radio antennas comprise disc antennas, horn antennas, and various forms of antenna arrays.[0003]Directive antennas are an integral part in microwave radio links used for point to point communication, e.g., in cellular backhaul applications. Microwave links as...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is about a method and tool for aligning radio antennas in non-line-of-sight conditions. This tool helps to quickly and easily align the first antenna without direct visual contact with the far end antenna. The tool includes guiding means and a display to show information about the direction and location of the antennas. This method reduces the time and cost of installation and makes it easier to roll out new radio link networks. It is especially useful for small and dense cell deployment in urban cellular networks.

Problems solved by technology

Due to the high directivity, correct alignments of antennas are crucial in order to reach expected performance in a radio link application, as an erroneous alignment will adversely affect system gain.

However, in case the communication system is deployed in non-line-of-sight, NLOS, conditions, meaning that the LOS is in some way obstructed, coarse radio antenna alignment can be complicated since the view of the far end antenna is obstructed.

In such cases it can be difficult to know how to align the antenna since the direction of the far end antenna is unknown.

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