Antenna system

Abstract

An antenna system (10) is described, which comprises: a flat satellite antenna (12), at least one 4G / 5G antenna, a casing (14) in which said at least one 4G / 5G antenna is contained, and a support structure (16) supporting both the satellite antenna (12) and the casing (14). Preferably, the satellite antenna (12) is arranged above the casing (14), and the support structure (16) comprises a lower base (18) intended to be fixed to the means of transport, an upper base (20) on which the satellite antenna (12) is secured, and two or more arms (22) connecting the lower base (18) with the upper base (20).

Description

[0001] ANTENNA SYSTEM

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to an antenna system for transmitting and receiving data, in particular (but not exclusively) for use in the nautical sector.

[0004] More specifically, the present invention relates to an antenna system intended to be installed on a means of transport for connecting the means of transport, and thus the person(s) on board of the means of transport, with the Internet. The means of transport for which the antenna system according to the present invention is intended is, in particular, a vessel (which may be of any type, e.g. a ship, also for military use, a yacht, a sailing boat, a tugboat, etc.), but might also be a land means of transport (e.g. a train, a camper, a coach, etc.) or an air means of transport.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Nowadays, there is an increasing need to connect means of transport to the Internet, so that, for example, occupants can surf the Internet using a simple Wi-Fi connection with a router mounted on board of the means of transport. Means of transport therefore require special antennas for data transmission / reception, which may be of various types depending on the technology used (satellite antennas, 4G / 5G antennas, etc.).

[0007] In the case of boats, for example, particularly those intended to travel on the open sea, as long as the boat is moving close to the coast, it is generally possible to connect to the internet using 4G / 5G antennas that communicate with communication infrastructures on land. Such antennas, however, are not able to guarantee a connection to the Internet beyond a certain distance from the coast and, therefore, the only way to be able to access the Internet is through satellite antennas.

[0008] The solution of equipping a means of transport, such as for example a boat, with antennas operating according to different technologies, in particular with at least one 4G / 5G antenna and at least one satellite antenna, is thus well known. This solution, however, is affected by the drawback that it requires the presence on the means of transport of appropriate areas in which to install the various antennas and also requires special arrangements to make these areas suitable for the installation of the antennas, in particular special attachment points, for example by making holes for the passage of cables and / or by mounting suitable support / holding members, such as for example brackets or the like, to ensure a stable and secure mounting of each of these antennas. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention aims therefore to provide an antenna system that, on the one hand, enables the use of different technologies for communication with the Internet and, on the other hand, takes up less space and is more convenient and easier to install than the prior art discussed above.

[0010] This and other objects are fully achieved according to the present invention by virtue of an antenna system as defined in the attached independent claim 1.

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the antenna system according to the present invention are defined in the dependent claims, the subject-matter of which is to be understood as forming an integral part of the following description.

[0012] In summary, the invention is based on the idea of using the same support structure to carry both a satellite antenna and a casing containing one or more 4G / 5G antennas. In this way, the space required on the means of transport for the installation of the two types of antenna is reduced and, moreover, the procedure for installation of the two types of antennas is made easier and quicker, since only one support structure is to be mounted on the means of transport, instead of two or more support structures each relating to a specific type of antenna.

[0013] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be evident from the following detailed description, which is given purely by way of non-limiting example.

[0014] Brief description of the drawings

[0015] In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 to 4 are a perspective view from above, a perspective view from below, a side view and a plan view, respectively, of an antenna system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Detailed description

[0017] With reference to the accompanying drawings, an antenna system according to the present invention is generally indicated 10. The antenna system proposed herein is designed for use on vessels (which may be of any type, including fast vessels such as yachts and superyachts), but it can however be used on any other means of transport, including land and / or air means of transport.

[0018] The antenna system 10 integrates two different types of antennas, namely both a satellite type and a 4G / 5G (and, in the future, also 6G) type. More specifically, the antenna system 10 comprises a flat satellite antenna 12, suitable for transmitting upwards, and one or more 4G / 5G directional and / or omnidirectional antennas for low, medium and high frequency (hereinafter simply referred to, for convenience, as 4G / 5G antennas), which are contained within a casing 14, which in the present embodiment is barrel-shaped but which might also be of any other shape, together with one or more 4G / 5G modems / routers. In particular, the satellite antenna 12 is an antenna configured to connect to the Starlink satellite communication system of the US company SpaceX, which - as is known - involves the use of a constellation of thousands of so-called LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites, i.e. satellites placed in low Earth orbit.

[0019] The satellite antenna 12 is arranged above the casing 14, preferably (as can be seen in Figure 3) entirely on the same side with respect to a vertical plane passing through a central axis z of the casing.

[0020] The satellite antenna 12 and the casing 14 are both carried by a support structure 16, which in the embodiment shown in the drawings comprises a lower base 18 intended to be fixed to the means of transport, an upper base 20 on which the satellite antenna 12 is secured, and a pair of arms 22 (or, in general, at least two arms 22) connecting the lower base 18 with the upper base 20, for example extending on the two sides of the casing 14, i.e. extending on opposite sides of the casing 14. In this way, the support structure 16 is shared by the satellite antenna 12 and the casing 14 containing the 4G / 5G antennas and, therefore, there is only one base (i.e. the lower base 18) to be mounted on the means of transport and through which the various connecting cables are to be passed. This, on the one hand, reduces the mounting area that has to be made available on the means of transport in order to allow the antenna system to be mounted, and, on the other, clearly makes the installation of the antenna system easier and quicker than the prior art, since it avoids to substantially duplicate the mounting and connection operations.

[0021] The lower base 18 of the support structure 16, where a power supply unit is contained and where the electrical cables for connection to the outside come in, is advantageously constructed in such a way as to guarantee an IP68 or even IP69 degree of protection.

[0022] In addition, the lower base 18 of the support structure 16 is preferably made of metal so as to facilitate the dissipation of the heat generated within that base.

[0023] As can be seen from Figure 2, between the top of the casing 14 and the satellite antenna 12 there is a certain free space G, for example of the order of a few centimetres, through which air can flow in order to ensure a certain ventilation of the satellite antenna.

[0024] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the top flat face of the satellite antenna 12 is preferably inclined by a certain angle, for example an angle of the order of several degrees, with respect to the bottom flat face of the lower base 18. The present invention has been described herein with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be envisaged which share the same inventive core with the one described herein, as defined in the appended claims.

[0025] For example, according to a further embodiment (not shown), the support structure may be formed by a rod (or pole), in particular shaped so as to extend with a certain inclination with respect to the vertical, in which case the satellite antenna and the 4G / 5G antenna(s) are mounted in a region at the top of that rod (or pole). Such a solution can, for example, be used for the installation of the antenna system in the stern area of a boat.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Antenna system (10), particularly for use on means of transport, such as vessels, comprising a flat satellite antenna (12), at least one 4G / 5G antenna, a casing (14) in which said at least one 4G / 5G antenna is contained, and a support structure (16) supporting both the satellite antenna (12) and the casing (14).

2. Antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the satellite antenna (12) is arranged above the casing (14).

3. Antenna system according to claim 2, wherein the support structure (16) comprises a lower base (18) intended to be fixed to the means of transport, an upper base (20) on which the satellite antenna (12) is secured, and two or more arms (22) connecting the lower base (18) with the upper base (20).

4. Antenna system according to claim 3, wherein said arms (22) are configured to extend on opposite sides of the casing (14).

5. Antenna system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a free space (G) is provided between the top of the casing (14) and the satellite antenna (12) so as to allow an air flow for ventilation of the satellite antenna (12).

6. Antenna system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a top flat face of the satellite antenna (12) is inclined at an angle relative to a bottom flat face of the lower base (18) of the support structure (16).

7. Antenna system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure (16) comprises a rod or pole.

8. Means of transport, in particular vessel, equipped with an antenna system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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