Antenna Bracket Camera Layout to Minimize Alignment Blind Spots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna alignment systems suffer from blind spots due to limited camera field of view, which can lead to undetected objects causing passive intermodulation (PIM) and antenna transmission blockages, and existing solutions either have cameras mounted on the antenna or use mobile devices in suboptimal positions, leading to reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A bracket system with a camera mounting surface positioned remotely from the antenna, allowing for a wide-angle lens camera to be securely attached on one side of the antenna, providing a broader field of view by taking images from both sides and combining them for increased coverage, and optionally including flip sensors, tilt and roll sensors, and wireless communication for data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the camera is mounted on the antenna or in suboptimal positions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the field of view is limited creating blind spots
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is repositioned from a conventional mounting location to the distal end of the bracket, utilizing the spatial dimension created by the bracket extension. This dimensional change allows the camera to capture a broader field of view including areas that would otherwise be blind spots, while the bracket structure provides the necessary support without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If the camera is positioned to cover all areas, then blind spots are minimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket serves as an intermediary structure that extends the camera's positioning capabilities without requiring direct integration of the camera into the antenna assembly. This mediator approach allows the camera to be positioned optimally for comprehensive detection while keeping the camera mounting and support mechanisms separate and modular, thereby managing device complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If a camera with wide field of view is used, then blind spots are reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed with pre-established mounting features and positioning mechanisms that guide the camera into the correct position during assembly. This preliminary preparation of the mounting structure eliminates the need for complex post-installation alignment procedures, thereby reducing the actual manufacturing precision requirements while still achieving the desired wide field of view coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera, antenna alignment system and method of aligning an antenna in a reference position, comprising: securing a bracket to one side of the antenna, said bracket including a camera mounting surface remote from said antenna; positioning a camera on said camera mounting surface; and a obtaining an image with a field of view from said camera to obtain data of nearby objects.