Self-Supporting Relay Antenna with Integrated Radome
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telecommunications network relay antennas are cumbersome, expensive, and visually unattractive due to their complex structure and need for additional camouflage, requiring extensive installation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A self-supporting relay antenna design featuring a transparent, radome that integrates the radiating element and serves as both a protective cover and anchoring mechanism, eliminating the need for a separate mast and camouflage devices, with adjustable and rotatable elements for precise direction control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a mast and separate camouflage device are used to support and hide the antenna, then the antenna is protected and visually integrated, but the installation becomes complex, heavy, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The radome is designed to simultaneously serve as the protective cover for the radiating element and as the camouflage device that integrates it visually with the environment. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate mast and camouflage components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining protection and aesthetic integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The radome structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it protects the radiating element from environmental factors, provides camouflage to integrate the antenna with surrounding structures, and serves as the support structure itself. This multi-functionality replaces the traditional separate components (mast, protective cover, camouflage device) with a single unified structure.
2Ease of operation
If a mast with ladders and reinforcement braces is installed to support the antenna, then the antenna can be maintained safely, but the installation becomes heavy and visually unattractive
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance access features (ladders, braces) are integrated into the radome structure itself rather than being separate additions to a mast. The radome incorporates built-in ladders and structural elements that provide both support and maintenance access, eliminating the need for heavy external reinforcement braces while maintaining safety and accessibility.
3Reliability
If traditional mast and camouflage components are used, then the antenna is protected and hidden, but the installation takes a long time and costs more
Solution Approach 1:
The radome is designed as a single integrated component that combines protection and camouflage functions. This eliminates the need to install separate protective covers and camouflage devices, reducing the number of installation steps and overall installation time while maintaining full protection from atmospheric agents.
4Device complexity
If the radome is made oversized to replace the mast, then the installation is simplified and weight is reduced, but the camouflage requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radome is designed with varying degrees of transparency and different optical properties in different regions to achieve effective camouflage. Certain areas may be more transparent to allow electromagnetic wave passage while other areas provide visual concealment. The shape and material properties are locally optimized to blend with specific environmental features while maintaining structural integrity and electromagnetic transparency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution simplifies installation, reduces weight and component count, enhances durability, minimizes maintenance needs, and seamlessly integrates with the environment through adaptive camouflage, while ensuring effective electromagnetic wave transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a radome transparent to electromagnetic waves and covering the transmitting and/or receiving radiating element so as to protect it
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a cellular telecommunication network relay antenna (1) comprising: at least one transmitting and/or receiving radiating element (2); a radome (3) transparent to electromagnetic waves covering the transmitting and/or receiving radiating element (2) to protect same. The transmitting and/or receiving radiating element (2) is supported by the radome (3), said radome (3) having anchoring means enabling the antenna (1) to be fixed to the ground.