[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an antenna apparatus, and more specifically, to
an antenna apparatus, which facilitates the installation of an indoor or outdoor wall
surface and a support pole by arranging a heat dissipation structure so that heat
is intensively dissipated to a front portion of an antenna housing part and removing
a rear heat dissipation fin.
[Background Art]
[0002] In general, an antenna apparatus includes a main board on which predetermined heating
elements are mounted, a plurality of filters stacked at a front of the main board,
and an antenna element board (or an antenna element assembly) stacked at fronts of
the plurality of filters forward from an inner side of an antenna housing part sequentially
in an installation space of the antenna housing part with an open front portion.
[0003] Here, a radome for protecting the main board, the plurality of filters, and the plurality
of antenna elements disposed by being stacked in the installation space of the antenna
housing part may be installed on a front surface of the antenna housing part.
[0004] Therefore, an antenna apparatus according to the related art is provided to dissipate
most of driving heat generated from the predetermined heating elements mounted on
the main board due to the provision of the radome rearward through a plurality of
rear heat dissipation fins provided on a rear surface of the antenna housing part.
[0005] However, in the antenna apparatus according to the related art, since the plurality
of rear heat dissipation fins for dissipating system driving heat to a rear side of
the antenna housing part should be formed at the rear side of the antenna housing
part, a separation space for air circulation is needed between the rear heat dissipation
fin and an installation wall surface, and thus there is a problem that production
installation is restricted due to restriction to installation conditions or the like.
In addition, in the antenna apparatus according to the related art, since the plurality
of rear heat dissipation fins for dissipating the system driving heat to the rear
side of the antenna housing part should be formed to integrally protrude rearward
from the antenna housing part, an installation space as much as volumes of the rear
heat dissipation fins is at least needed, and thus there is a problem of leading to
installation restriction to installation wall surfaces of public facilities such as
subways.
[0006] In addition, even when the system driving heat of the antenna apparatus is dissipated
to the front side of the antenna housing part, when the radome, which is an essential
component for protecting the antenna element and the like, is provided, a heat dissipation
area is restricted as much as an area of the radome, and thus there is a problem that
an increase in heat dissipation performance is very restricted inevitably.
[Technical Problem]
[0007] The present disclosure has been made in efforts to solve the problems and is directed
to providing an antenna apparatus capable of reducing restriction to an installation
space of an indoor or outdoor installation wall surface and a support pole.
[0008] In addition, the present disclosure is directed to providing an antenna apparatus
capable of removing a configuration of a conventional radome itself restricted to
heat dissipation performance and forward heat dissipation through one component of
an antenna element assembly.
[0009] The objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described objects,
and other objects that are not mentioned will be able to be clearly understood by
those skilled in the art from the following description.
[Technical Solution]
[0010] An antenna apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes
an antenna housing part made of a thermally conductive material and including a front
housing formed in a shape of an enclosure with an open rear portion and a rear housing
cover shielding the open rear portion of the front housing and forming a predetermined
installation space therein, a main board and a power supply unit (PSU) board disposed
to be stacked in the installation space of the antenna housing part, having a predetermined
heating element disposed by being mounted on front surfaces thereof, and stacked so
that a front surface of the predetermined heating element is in thermal contact with
a front inner surface of the installation space of the antenna housing part, and a
plurality of filters disposed to form a predetermined layer in the installation space
between rear surfaces of the main board and the PSU board and the rear housing cover.
[0011] Here, a plurality of radiation elements configured to enable implementation of beam
forming according to double polarization may be exposed to outside air and disposed
to form a layer, which differs from the main board, the PSU board, and the plurality
of filters, on the front surface of the antenna housing part.
[0012] In addition, a plurality of forward heat dissipation fins protruding forward by a
predetermined length may be formed integrally on a front surface of the front housing
corresponding to the front inner surface of the installation space of the antenna
housing part in contact with a front surface of the predetermined heating element.
[0013] In addition, the antenna housing part may be fixed via an installation plate provided
so that a rear surface of the rear housing cover is installed parallel to an installation
wall surface.
[0014] In addition, the rear housing cover of the antenna housing part may be formed flat
to be in surface contact with the installation plate.
[0015] In addition, the installation plate may be formed in a perpendicular panel shape
in surface contact with the installation wall surface and made of a thermally conductive
material capable of conducting heat transferred from the rear housing cover.
[0016] In addition, a fixing groove for an installation wall surface, which is formed to
pass through the installation plate in a front-rear direction and allows a head portion
of an installation screw previously fixed to the installation wall surface to be inserted
by passing through the installation plate when the installation plate moves rearward,
and then allows a body portion of the installation screw to be hooked by being inserted
in its own weight direction when the installation plate moves downward, may be formed
at a plurality of positions of the installation plate.
[0017] In addition, the antenna housing part may be fixed via an installation plate provided
so that a rear surface of the rear housing cover is installed parallel to a longitudinal
direction of a support pole.
[0018] In addition, a fixing groove for a support pole, which is formed to pass through
the installation plate in a front-rear direction and to which a plurality of hose
clamp wires provided to be vertically spaced apart from each other to horizontally
surround an outer circumferential surface of the support pole are fastened by being
hooked, may be formed at a plurality of positions of the installation plate.
[0019] In addition, a left and right antenna hooking part bent to protrude forward may be
formed on each of both left and right end portions of the installation plate, a "U"-shaped
screw fastening groove with an open upper portion may be formed in each of the left
and right antenna hooking parts, and the antenna housing part may be fixed by being
hooked by an operation in which an assembly screw is fastened by being inserted into
and hooked to a screw fastening groove when fastened to the screw fastening hole of
screw fastening parts formed on left and right edge side surface portions of the front
housing of the antenna housing part.
[0020] In addition, the antenna apparatus may further include a light emitting diode (LED)
module coupled to surround a front surface of the antenna housing part and configured
to radiate predetermined light from both side surface portions thereof, wherein the
LED module may be fastened to the remaining screw fastening holes other than a screw
fastening hole to which the installation plate is screw-fastened by the assembly screw
by a separate assembly screw.
[0021] In addition, the LED module may further include an LED board part on which a plurality
of LED elements disposed to extend vertically inside both left and right side surface
portions of the LED module are mounted, and an LED guide part disposed vertically
inside the both left and right side surface portions of the LED module and configured
to prevent light generated from the LED elements from entering a rear side provided
with the antenna housing part.
[0022] In addition, left and right sides inside upper and lower end portions of the LED
module may be provided with a detachable guide part in which a "U"-shaped assembly
guide groove open rearward is formed, and a guide screw hole to which a guide screw
passing through the detachable guide part is assembled may be formed in upper and
lower end portions of the front housing of the antenna housing part.
[0023] In addition, an element seating part on which an antenna element assembly including
the plurality of radiation elements is seated may be provided flat on a front surface
of the front housing of the antenna housing part.
[0024] In addition, the element seating part may be formed so that a front surface of the
front housing of a portion from which the plurality of forward heat dissipation fins
are removed is recessed to a predetermined depth and formed to a depth at which an
edge end portion of the antenna element assembly is accommodated deeper than front
ends of the plurality of forward heat dissipation fins.
[0025] In addition, the antenna element assembly may include a printed circuit board for
a radiation element coupled in close contact with a front surface of the element seating
part, an antenna patch circuit part formed by being printed on a front surface of
the printed circuit board for a radiation element, an antenna assembly cover made
of a plastic resin material and configured to shield the front surface of the printed
circuit board for a radiation element including the antenna patch circuit part, and
a plurality of radiation directors made of a thermally conductive material, disposed
on a front surface of the antenna assembly cover, and each electrically connected
to the antenna patch circuit part through one of a plurality of through holes formed
to pass through the antenna assembly cover in a front-rear direction.
[Advantageous Effects]
[0026] According to the antenna apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,
it is possible to achieve various effects as follows.
[0027] First, since the rear surface of the antenna housing part is disposed in close contact
with the front side of the installation plate and the antenna apparatus may be installed
at the rear side of the installation plate to be parallel to the front surface of
the installation wall surface or the support pole, it is possible to reduce the restraint
to the installation space.
[0028] Second, by removing the configuration of the conventional radome itself restricted
to the heat dissipation performance and enabling the forward heat dissipation through
one component of the antenna element assembly, it is possible to maximize the heat
dissipation performance during the forward heat dissipation even without the rearward
heat dissipation.
[Description of Drawings]
[0029]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of various embodiments of an antenna apparatus according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a light emitting diode
(LED) module is installed at a front of the antenna apparatus as a second embodiment
among the embodiments of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are exploded perspective views of a front portion and rear portion
of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a cutout perspective view along line A-A in FIG. 2 and an enlarged view
of the cut portion.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the antenna apparatus of FIG. 2.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are exploded perspective views of a front portion and rear portion
of an antenna apparatus according to a first embodiment among the embodiments of FIG.
1.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are exploded perspective views of a front portion and rear portion
of an antenna element assembly of the configuration of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a front view of the antenna apparatus according to the first embodiment
among the embodiments of FIG. 1.
FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view along line B-B in FIG. 8, and FIG. 9B is a cutout
perspective view.
FIGS. 10A to 10C are pictures illustrating various installation examples of the antenna
apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 11A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the antenna apparatus
according to the first embodiment among the embodiments of FIG. 1 is installed on
an installation wall surface, and FIG. 11B is an exploded perspective view thereof.
FIG. 12A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the antenna apparatus
according to the second embodiment among the embodiments of FIG. 1 is installed on
an installation wall surface, and FIG. 12B is an exploded perspective view thereof.
FIG. 13A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a pair of antenna apparatuses
according to the first embodiment among the embodiments of FIG. 1 is installed on
a support pole, and FIG. 13B is an exploded perspective view thereof.
FIG. 14A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which three antenna apparatuses
according to the second embodiment among the embodiments of FIG. 1 are installed on
the support pole, and FIG. 14B is an exploded perspective view thereof.
<Description of reference numerals>
[0030]
100: antenna apparatus 110, 120: antenna housing part
110: front housing 111: forward heat dissipation fin
115: element seating part 120: rear housing cover
300: antenna element assembly 310: antenna assembly cover
320: printed circuit board for a radiation element 330: director for radiation
350: antenna patch circuit part 351a to 351c: patch element
410: main board 420: power supply unit (PSU) board
500: filter600: installation plate
[Mode for Invention]
[0031] Hereinafter, an antenna apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0032] In adding reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that
the same components have the same reference numerals as much as possible even when
they are illustrated in different drawings. In addition, in describing embodiments
of the present disclosure, the detailed description of related known configurations
or functions will be omitted when it is determined that the detailed description obscures
the understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0033] Terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used to describe components
of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The terms are only for the purpose of
distinguishing a component from another, and the nature, sequence, order, or the like
of the corresponding component is not limited by the terms. In addition, unless otherwise
defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the
same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the
present disclosure pertains. The terms defined in a generally used dictionary should
be construed as meanings that match with the meanings of the terms from the context
of the related technology and are not construed as an ideal or excessively formal
meaning unless clearly defined in this application.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of various embodiments of an antenna apparatus according
to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating
a state in which a light emitting diode (LED) module is installed at a front of the
antenna apparatus as a second embodiment among the embodiments of FIG. 1, FIGS. 3A
and 3B are exploded perspective views of a front portion and rear portion of FIG.
2, FIG. 4 is a cutout perspective view along line A-A in FIG. 2 and an enlarged view
of the cut portion, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the antenna apparatus of FIG. 2.
[0035] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, an antenna apparatus 100 according to one embodiment
of the present disclosure includes an antenna housing part 110 and 120 having an installation
space provided therein, a main board 410 and a power supply unit (PSU) board 420 stacked
in the installation spaces of the antenna housing part 110 and 120, and a plurality
of filters 500 disposed on the installation spaces to form a predetermined layer which
is different from the main board 410 and the PSU board 420.
[0036] In the antenna apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,
as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the antenna housing part 110 and 120 may include the
front housing 110 which is made of a thermally conductive material, formed in a shape
of an enclosure having an open rear portion, has a predetermined installation space
formed therein, and has a plurality of forward heat dissipation fins 111 protruding
to at least one side of a front surface thereof by a predetermined length and an element
seating part 115 in which an antenna element assembly 300 including a plurality of
radiation elements is seated on a front surface from which some of the plurality of
forward heat dissipation fins 111 are removed provided flat, and the rear housing
cover 120 provided to shield the open rear portion of the front housing 110.
[0037] Here, the main board 410 and the PSU board 420 may be disposed to be stacked in an
installation space 110s of the antenna housing part 110 and 120 and disposed to be
stacked so that a predetermined heating element is disposed to be mounted on a front
surface thereof and a front surface of the predetermined heating element is in thermal
contact with a front inner surface of the installation space of the antenna housing
part 110 and 120 (in particular, the front housing 110) provided with the plurality
of forward heat dissipation fins 111.
[0038] In addition, the plurality of filters 500 may have a predetermined layer formed behind
the main board 410 and the PSU board 420, and pass through between the main board
410 and the PSU board 420 and may be electrically connected to the antenna element
assembly 300.
[0039] Although not illustrated, the conventional antenna apparatus has been provided to
allow most heat to be dissipated rearward from the antenna housing part by intensively
mounting a heating element with a generally large heating amount on a rear portion
of the main board or the PSU board and arranging a filter between the antenna element
assembly and the main board or the PSU board. In addition, generally, the filter on
the installation space is mostly disposed between the main board or PSU board disposed
behind the filter and the antenna element assembly disposed in front of the filter
for the shortest connection of electrical signals.
[0040] However, since the above-described conventional arrangement structure necessarily
requires the installation of the radome to protect the front of the antenna element
assembly, which is the most important factor in the antenna apparatus, there has been
a limitation that the intensive heat dissipation structure for the rear of the antenna
housing part 110 and 120 should be inevitably adopted for smooth system heat dissipation
of internal heat.
[0041] In order to solve the conventional problems at once, a technical feature of the antenna
apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is that the antenna
element assembly 300 is exposed to front outside air and designed and manufactured
so that no additional installation of the radome is required, while the arrangement
of the filter 500 on the installation space of the antenna housing part 110 and 120
is also designed to enable or be advantageous for forward heat dissipation of the
heating elements installed on the main board 410 or the PSU board 420.
[0042] For reference, the main board 410 may correspond to a board part 400 on which one
layer is formed on an inner surface of the antenna housing part 110 and 120 together
with the PSU board 420 to be described below.
[0043] Here, the plurality of forward heat dissipation fins 111 are formed integrally with
the front housing 110 so that the plurality of forward heat dissipation fins 111 protrudes
forward by a predetermined length from the front surface of the front housing 110
of the antenna housing part 110 and 120 and serves to increase a heat transfer surface
area of the front surface of the front housing 110 made of a thermally conductive
material (e.g., a metal material).
[0044] In addition, the rear housing cover 120 of the antenna housing part 110 and 120 may
be disposed to shield the open rear portion of the front housing 110, made of a thermally
conductive material (e.g., a metal material), and may transfer heat in the installation
space between the front housing 110 and the rear housing cover 120 rearward. However,
the rear housing cover 120 differs from the front housing 110 in that the rear housing
cover 120 is disposed in surface contact with or parallel to a front surface of the
installation plate 600 to be described below and is not formed with a component such
as the plurality of forward heat dissipation fins. Therefore, it may be understood
that heat transferred through the rear housing cover 120 is limited to dissipating
heat to the outside via only the installation plate 600 in surface contact with the
rear housing cover 120.
[0045] In other words, unlike the antenna apparatus according to the related art, a rear
surface of the rear housing cover 120 is not provided with rearward heat dissipation
fins for heat dissipation and may be formed to have only a perpendicular surface in
surface contact with the front surface of the installation plate 600. However, the
formation of the rearward heat dissipation fins on the rear surface of the rear housing
cover 120 is not necessarily, completely precluded, and when the rear housing cover
120 is disposed in parallel to be separated from the installation plate 600, it goes
without saying that the rearward heat dissipation fins may be additionally formed.
[0046] Meanwhile, there is a difference in that an antenna apparatus 100A (see FIG. 1A)
according to a first embodiment and an antenna apparatus 100B (see FIG. 1B) according
to a second embodiment of the antenna apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of
the present disclosure are embodiments in which the antenna apparatuses have different
horizontal widths or vertical lengths according to the optimal shapes and sizes of
the main board 410 and the PSU board 420 stacked inside the installation space of
the antenna housing part 110 and 120 and the plurality of filters 500.
[0047] The use aspect of the antenna apparatus 100A (see FIG. 1A) according to the first
embodiment and the antenna apparatus 100B (see FIG. 1B) according to the second embodiment
is a matter to be applied by being appropriately selected by a worker according to
a surrounding environment to be installed, and widths and sizes in a longitudinal
direction thereof should be not restricted. However, when the overall directivity
adjustment by tilting adjustment in a front- rear direction and steering adjustment
in a left-right direction is required after the antenna apparatus 100 according to
one embodiment of the present disclosure is installed, a vertical length may become
only a restriction factor during tilting rotation, and a length of the width may become
only a restriction factor during steering rotation.
[0048] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, the antenna apparatus 100 according to
one embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a light emitting diode
(LED) module 700 coupled to surround the front surface of the antenna housing part
110 and 120 and for radiating predetermined light from both side surfaces thereof.
[0049] Here, the LED module 700 may be provided to be fastened to the remaining screw fastening
holes 119 other than the screw fastening hole 119 to which the installation plate
600 is screw-fastened by an assembly screw 619 by a separate assembly screw 619L.
[0050] The LED module 700 may be coupled to surround the front surface of the antenna housing
part 110 and 120 and provided to vertically pass through the antenna housing part
110 and 120, thereby preventing the antenna element assembly 300 and the plurality
of forward heat dissipation fins 111 disposed on the front surface of the front housing
110 of the antenna housing part 110 and 120 to be exposed to the outside air from
being shielded with the outside air to enable sufficient heat exchange with the outside
air, and may be made of the same material as that of the conventional radome, thereby
minimizing negative effects on the generation of radiation beams from the antenna
element assembly 300.
[0051] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the LED module 700 may further include
an LED board part 750 on which a plurality of LED elements 751 disposed to vertically
extend inside both left and right side surfaces of the LED module 700 are mounted,
and an LED guide part 760 vertically disposed inside the both left and right side
surfaces of the LED module 700 and for preventing light generated from the LED elements
751 from entering a rear side provided with the antenna housing part 110 and 120.
[0052] In addition, a rigidity reinforcement part 710 for reinforcing the rigidity of the
LED module 700 made of a relatively flexible material may be coupled to inner sides
of the both left and right side surfaces of the LED module 700.
[0053] The rigidity reinforcement part 710 may be coupled to the inner sides of the both
left and right side surfaces of the LED module 700 through the screw-fastening of
the plurality of fixing screws 619L.
[0054] The light generated from the LED elements 751 of the LED module 700 may serve to
improve the esthetic sense by being subtly exposed to observers (citizens or users)
forward.
[0055] In particular, the rigidity reinforcement part 710 may include uneven parts 711 and
713 of which upper and lower ends are formed to protrude inward toward left and right
side surface portions of the front housing 110 by a predetermined length, and the
uneven parts 711 and 713 may serve to stably support the LED module 700 by being supported
by supports 113 protruding outward from each of the left and right side surface portions
of the front housing 110 by a predetermined length.
[0056] Meanwhile, the element seating part 115 in which the antenna element assembly 300
to be described below is coupled by being accommodated may be formed flat on the front
surface of the front housing 110.
[0057] The element seating part 115 may have a shape corresponding to an exterior of the
antenna element assembly 300, and more specifically, the front surface of the front
housing 110 of a portion from which the plurality of forward heat dissipation fins
111 are removed may be formed to be recessed rearward by a predetermined depth and
formed to a depth at which an edge end portion of the antenna element assembly 300
is accommodated deeper than front ends of the plurality of forward heat dissipation
fins 111.
[0058] Meanwhile, the plurality of forward heat dissipation fins 111 may be formed on the
entirety of the front surface of the front housing 110 except for the portion on which
the element seating part 115 is formed.
[0059] As described above, the antenna apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure is provided to dissipate the system heat generated from the heating
elements mounted on the main board 410 forward using the plurality of forward heat
dissipation fins 111 formed to protrude forward from the front housing 110 of the
antenna housing part 110 and 120 and thus has an advantage that the installation of
the antenna apparatus 100 can be easily installed even when the installation space
of an installation wall surface W or support pole P is narrow.
[0060] More specifically, the installation plate 600 is a component for mediating the installation
on the installation wall surface W or support pole P of the antenna housing part 110
and 120 and may be firmly installed on the installation wall surface W or support
pole P in advance using a fastening member (not illustrated).
[0061] In addition, the antenna housing part 110 and 112 may be fixed by being hooked by
an operation in which left and right antenna hooking parts 610 bent to protrude forward
are formed on both left and right end portions of the installation plate 600, a U-shaped
screw fastening groove 615 with an open upper portion is formed on each of upper and
lower portions of the left and right antenna hooking part 610, the assembly screws
619 fastened to left and right edge portions of the front housing 110 of the antenna
housing part 110 and 112 are fastened by being inserted and hooked into the screw
fastening groove 615.
[0062] Here, the installation plate 600 may be formed in a perpendicular panel shape in
surface contact with the installation wall surface W and made of a thermally conductive
material (e.g., a metal material). In this case, since the rear surface of the installation
plate 600 may be formed in surface contact with the installation wall surface W, it
is possible to not only minimally reduce a space between the rear surface of the rear
housing cover 120 of the antenna housing part 110 and 120 and the installation wall
surface W, but also easily transfer (dissipate) the heat transferred through the perpendicular
surface of the rear housing cover 120 rearward by the thermally conductive material.
In this case, a heat transfer medium panel (not illustrated) or the like may be provided
between the rear surface of the rear housing cover 120 and the installation plate
600.
[0063] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a detachable guide part 770 in which a "U"-shaped
assembly groove 771 open rearward is formed may be further provided at each of left
and right sides inside the upper and lower end portions of the LED module 700.
[0064] In addition, although not illustrated, a guide screw hole (not illustrated) to which
a guide screw 780 passing through the detachable guide part 770 is assembled may be
further formed on the upper and lower end portions of the front housing 110 of the
antenna housing part 110 and 120.
[0065] Here, the guide screw 780 may be coupled to the antenna housing part 110 and 120
side on each of the upper portion or lower portion of the front housing 110 of the
antenna housing part 110 and 120 and may install the LED module 700 on the front housing
110 by an operation fastened to a guide screw hole exposed through the assembly guide
groove 771 during this process.
[0066] In order to conveniently couple the LED module 700 to the front housing 110, an assembler
may couple the LED module 700 by an operation of completely fastening the guide screw
780 at a right position by temporarily fastening the guide screw 780 to the guide
fastening hole in advance before assembling the LED module 700 and then allowing a
body portion of the temporarily fastened guide screw 780 to be inserted into the assembly
guide groove 771.
[0067] Conversely, in order to conveniently separate the LED module 700 from the front housing
110, the assembler may loosely loosen the guide screw 780 to prevent the guide screw
780 from being separated completely, and then stably separate the guide screw 780
through the guide in a front-rear direction of the body portion of the guide screw
780 and the assembly guide groove 771.
[0068] In particular, although not illustrated in the drawings, when a power supply terminal
for the LED module 700 is provided to be detachably connected through the antenna
housing part 110 and 120, by separating a portion of the LED module 700 forward rather
than completely separating the corresponding portion of the LED module 700 and then
separating the power supply terminal, it is possible to prevent a post-failure of
the power supply terminal.
[0069] FIGS. 6A and 6B are exploded perspective views of a front portion and rear portion
of an antenna apparatus according to a first embodiment among the embodiments of FIG.
1, FIGS. 7A and 7B are exploded perspective views of a front portion and rear portion
of an antenna element assembly of the configuration of FIG. 1, FIG. 8 is a front view
of the antenna apparatus according to the first embodiment among the embodiments of
FIG. 1, and FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view along line B-B in FIG. 8, and FIG. 9B
is a cutout perspective view.
[0070] As illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 7B, the antenna element assembly 300 may be installed
to be accommodated in at least one element seating part 115 formed on the front surface
of the front housing 110.
[0071] More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the antenna element assembly
300 may include a printed circuit board 320 for a radiation element coupled in close
contact with the front surface of the element seating part 115, an antenna patch circuit
part 350 formed by being printed on a front surface of the printed circuit board 320
for a radiation element, an antenna assembly cover 310 in close contact with the front
surface of the printed circuit board 320 for a radiation element, which is made of
a plastic resin material and includes the antenna patch circuit part 350, and a plurality
of radiation directors 330 made of a thermally conductive material, disposed on a
front surface of the antenna assembly cover 310, and each electrically connected to
the antenna patch circuit part 350 through one of the plurality of through holes formed
to pass through the antenna assembly cover 310 in a front-rear direction.
[0072] As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the antenna patch circuit part 350 may include
a plurality of patch element parts 351a, 351b, and 351c provided to enable beam radiation
of double polarization, disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a vertical
direction, and a one-side feeding line 352 and the other-side feeding line 353 for
supplying electrical signals to each of the patch element parts 351a, 351b, and 351c.
[0073] Input terminals 352a and 353a electrically connected to any one of the main board
410 or the PSU board 420 provided in the installation space inside the antenna housing
part 110 and 120 may be formed integrally on the one-side feeding line 352 and the
other-side feeding line 353.
[0074] Each of the input terminals 352a and 353a may be disposed to extend to the inside
of the installation space through a terminal connecting hole 237 formed to pass through
the printed circuit board 320 for a radiation element in the front-rear direction.
[0075] Here, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, since the plurality of radiation directors 330 may
be assembled to an installation boss 333 formed to protrude rearward from the center
thereof through an assembly screw (not illustrated) made of a thermally conductive
material and provided so that the assembly screw is in thermal contact with the element
seating part 115 made of a thermally conductive material to allow the system heat
generated from the inside of the antenna housing part 110 and 120 to be dissipated
forward via the radiation directors 330, which are one component of the antenna element
assembly 300, as well as the plurality of forward heat dissipation fins 111 of the
front housing 110, there is an advantage in that it is possible to greatly improve
the overall heat dissipation performance.
[0076] The installation boss 333 of the radiation director 330 may be installed to pass
through the screw through hole 313 formed in the antenna assembly cover 310 and then
assembled through the assembly screw.
[0077] Meanwhile, although the plurality of filters 500 is generally disposed between the
layer on which the main board 410 and the PSU board 420 are formed and the antenna
element assembly 300, in the one embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality
of filters 500 are preferably disposed to be stacked behind the layer on which the
main board 410 and the PSU board 420 are formed in that the plurality of heating elements
mounted on the front surfaces of the main board 410 and the PSU board 420 are disposed
in direct surface thermal contact with the front surface inside the front housing
110.
[0078] Therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in the plurality of filters 500, it
is preferable that positions of an input port 515 and an output port 525 formed on
each of unit filters are designed to be positions at which an input and output of
the electrical signal from the main board 410 are easy or positions at which electrical
signal connection with the antenna element assembly 300 is easy.
[0079] Here, the output ports 525 of the plurality of filters 500 may pass through a terminal
installation hole 117 formed in the element seating part 115 of the front housing
110 of the antenna housing part 110 and 120 and may be connected to each of the input
terminals 352a and 353a through an output port hole 322 of the printed circuit board
320 for a radiation element.
[0080] Meanwhile, the PSU board 420 disposed to form the same layer and provided with a
PSU element (not illustrated) for supplying predetermined power to the plurality of
filters 500 and the heating element side of the main board 410 and the like may be
provided under the main board 410.
[0081] Here, the plurality of filters 500 may be electrically connected to the antenna element
assembly 300 disposed on the front surface of the front housing 110 through an empty
space between the main board 410 and the PSU board 420. To this end, the front housing
110 may be provided with the terminal installation hole 117 passing therethrough in
the front-rear direction and electrically connected via a direct coaxial connector
installed in the terminal installation hole 117.
[0082] Meanwhile, the heating element mounted on the main board 410 may have a front surface
mounted in surface thermal contact with a rear surface corresponding to the remainder
other than the element seating part 115 of the front housing. Here, the heating element
may include a field programmable gate array (FPGA) element or at least one of a transmission
(Tx) element and low noise amplifier (LNA) element.
[0083] FIGS. 10A to 10C are pictures illustrating various installation examples of the antenna
apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0084] In the antenna apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,
since the antenna housing part 110 and 120 may be simply installed by installing the
installation plate 600 not only on a perpendicular wall surface of an indoor environment
such as airports or subway stations as illustrated in FIGS. 10A, but also on a perpendicular
wall surface of an outdoor environment such as outdoor parks or plazas as illustrated
in FIGS. 10B and 10C in advance, there is an advantage in that it is possible to improve
installation convenience.
[0085] In addition, in the antenna apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure, since each of the rear surfaces of the antenna housing part 110 and 120
(i.e., the rear surface of the rear housing cover 120) is installed in surface contact
with the indoor or outdoor installation wall surface W via the installation plate
600, there is an advantage in that not only it is possible to greatly reduce the spatial
limitation, but also to easily dissipate the system heat generated from the inside
of the antenna housing part 110 and 120 to the front surface of the front housing
110 without thermal interference.
[0086] FIG. 11A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the antenna apparatus
according to the first embodiment among the embodiments of FIG. 1 is installed on
an installation wall surface, and FIG. 11B is an exploded perspective view thereof,
FIG. 12A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the antenna apparatus
according to the second embodiment among the embodiments of FIG. 1 is installed on
an installation wall surface, and FIG. 12B is an exploded perspective view thereof,
FIG. 13A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a pair of antenna apparatuses
according to the first embodiment among the embodiments of FIG. 1 is installed on
a support pole, and FIG. 13B is an exploded perspective view thereof, and FIG. 14A
is a perspective view illustrating a state in which three antenna apparatuses according
to the second embodiment among the embodiments of FIG. 1 are installed on the support
pole, and FIG. 14B is an exploded perspective view thereof.
[0087] As illustrated in FIGS. 11A to 12B, the antenna apparatuses 100A and 100B according
to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be installed on the installation wall
surface W via the installation plate 600.
[0088] More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 11A to 12B, a fixing groove 630 for an
installation wall surface, which is formed to pass through the installation plate
600 in the front-rear direction and allows a head portion of an installation screw
(not illustrated) previously fixed to the installation wall surface W to be inserted
by passing through the installation plate 600 when the installation plate 600 moves
rearward, and then allows a body portion of the installation screw to be hooked by
being inserted in its own weight direction when the installation plate 600 moves downward,
may be formed at a plurality of positions of the installation plate 600.
[0089] Here, since the installation screw is generally formed to have a radius of the head
portion larger than a radius of the body portion, the fixing groove 630 for an installation
wall surface may be formed to be cut so that a circular cutout portion with a size
at which the head portion is at least inserted and a circular cutout portion connected
to the cutout portion and smaller than the radius of the head portion and larger than
the radius of the body portion are connected.
[0090] The fixing grooves 630 for an installation wall surface may be formed to be spaced
apart from each other at three or more positions (four positions in the present embodiment)
so that the flat portion of the installation plate 600 may be stably fixed by being
hooked to the installation wall surface W. The head portions of the installation screws
previously fixed to the three or four positions of the installation wall surface W
may pass through the installation plate 600 forward and then move the installation
plate 600 downward so that the body portion of the installation screw may be stably
hooked to the fixing groove 630 for an installation wall surface.
[0091] As described above, after the installation plate 600 is stably fixed to the installation
wall surface W, as illustrated in FIGS. 11A to 12B, the antenna housing part 110 and
120 may be fixed by an operation of fastening the assembly screw 619 through the "U"-shaped
screw fastening grooves 615 formed in both left and right end portions of the installation
plate 600.
[0092] Here, the antenna apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure
may further include an external mounting member 400 provided on a lower end portion
of the antenna housing part 110 and 120 and for terminal connection with an external
cable 100C for supplying external power or signals.
[0093] In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 11A to 12B, the antenna apparatus 100 according
to one embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a cable installation
pipe 800 for guiding the hidden installation of the external cable 100C on the installation
wall surface W and a cable hidden cover 900 for hiding the external cable 100C.
[0094] As described above, according to the antenna apparatus 100 according to one embodiment
of the present disclosure, by hiding the external cable 100C and the external mounting
member 400 when the antenna housing part 110 and 120 are installed on the installation
wall surface W, it is possible to prevent a degradation in exterior beauty due to
the external cable 100C and the external mounting member 400 exposed to the outside.
[0095] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIGS. 13A to 14B, the antenna apparatus 100 according
to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be installed via the installation
plate 600 so that the rear surface of the rear housing cover 120 is parallel to the
longitudinal direction of the support pole P.
[0096] Here, a fixing groove 620 for a support pole, which is formed to pass through the
installation plate 600 in the front-rear direction and to which a plurality of hose
clamp wires 50 provided to be vertically spaced apart from each other to horizontally
surround an outer circumferential surface of the support pole P are fastened by being
hooked, may be formed at a plurality of positions of the installation plate 600.
[0097] As illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B, in the case of the installation of the support
pole P on the antenna housing part 110 and 120, two installation plates 600-1 and
600-2 may each be installed at the same height to be parallel to the longitudinal
direction of the support pole P. In other words, the two installation plates 600-1
and 600-2 may be provided so that front surfaces of front housings 110 of antenna
housing parts 110 and 120 face a 180-degree direction with respect to the support
pole P.
[0098] However, only two antenna apparatuses 100A-1 and 100A-2 should not be necessarily
installed on one support pole P, and as illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, front surfaces
of front housings 110 of the three antenna apparatuses 100B-1, 100B-2, and 100B-3
may be provided to face a 120-degree direction.
[0099] As described above, the antenna apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
However, it goes without saying that the embodiments of the present disclosure are
not necessarily limited by the above-described embodiments, and various modifications
and implementation within the equivalent scope are possible by those skilled in the
art to which the present disclosure pertains. Therefore, the true scope of the present
disclosure will be determined by the claims to be described below.
[Industrial applicability]
[0100] The present disclosure provides an antenna apparatus capable of reducing the restraint
of an installation space for an indoor or outdoor installation wall surface and a
support pole, removing a configuration of a conventional radome itself restricted
to heat dissipation performance, and enabling forward heat dissipation through one
component of an antenna element assembly.
1. An antenna apparatus comprising:
an antenna housing part made of a thermally conductive material and including a front
housing formed in a shape of an enclosure with an open rear portion and a rear housing
cover shielding the open rear portion of the front housing and forming a predetermined
installation space therein;
a main board and a power supply unit (PSU) board disposed to be stacked in the installation
space of the antenna housing part, having a predetermined heating element disposed
by being mounted on front surfaces thereof, and stacked so that a front surface of
the predetermined heating element is in thermal contact with a front inner surface
of the installation space of the antenna housing part; and
a plurality of filters disposed to form a predetermined layer in the installation
space between rear surfaces of the main board and the PSU board and the rear housing
cover.
2. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of radiation elements configured
to enable implementation of beam forming according to double polarization are exposed
to outside air and disposed to form a layer, which differs from the main board, the
PSU board, and the plurality of filters, on the front surface of the antenna housing
part.
3. The antenna apparatus of claim 2, wherein a plurality of forward heat dissipation
fins protruding forward by a predetermined length are formed integrally on a front
surface of the front housing corresponding to the front inner surface of the installation
space of the antenna housing part in contact with a front surface of the predetermined
heating element.
4. The antenna apparatus of claim 2, wherein the antenna housing part is fixed via an
installation plate provided so that a rear surface of the rear housing cover is installed
parallel to an installation wall surface.
5. The antenna apparatus of claim 4, wherein the rear housing cover of the antenna housing
part is formed flat to be in surface contact with the installation plate.
6. The antenna apparatus of claim 4, wherein the installation plate is formed in a perpendicular
panel shape in surface contact with the installation wall surface and made of a thermally
conductive material capable of conducting heat transferred from the rear housing cover.
7. The antenna apparatus of claim 4, wherein a fixing groove for an installation wall
surface, which is formed to pass through the installation plate in a front-rear direction
and allows a head portion of an installation screw previously fixed to the installation
wall surface to be inserted by passing through the installation plate when the installation
plate moves rearward, and then allows a body portion of the installation screw to
be hooked by being inserted in its own weight direction when the installation plate
moves downward, is formed at a plurality of positions of the installation plate.
8. The antenna apparatus of claim 2, wherein the antenna housing part is fixed via an
installation plate provided so that a rear surface of the rear housing cover is installed
parallel to a longitudinal direction of a support pole.
9. The antenna apparatus of claim 8, wherein a fixing groove for a support pole, which
is formed to pass through the installation plate in a front-rear direction and to
which a plurality of hose clamp wires provided to be vertically spaced apart from
each other to horizontally surround an outer circumferential surface of the support
pole are fastened by being hooked, is formed at a plurality of positions of the installation
plate.
10. The antenna apparatus of claim 4 or 8, wherein a left and right antenna hooking part
bent to protrude forward is formed on each of both left and right end portions of
the installation plate,
a "U"-shaped screw fastening groove with an open upper portion is formed in each of
the left and right antenna hooking parts, and
the antenna housing part is fixed by being hooked by an operation in which an assembly
screw is fastened by being inserted into and hooked to a screw fastening groove when
fastened to the screw fastening hole of screw fastening parts formed on left and right
edge side surface portions of the front housing of the antenna housing part.
11. The antenna apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a light emitting diode (LED)
module coupled to surround a front surface of the antenna housing part and configured
to radiate predetermined light from both side surface portions thereof,
wherein the LED module is fastened to the remaining screw fastening holes other than
a screw fastening hole to which the installation plate is screw-fastened by the assembly
screw by a separate assembly screw.
12. The antenna apparatus of claim 11, wherein the LED module further includes:
an LED board part on which a plurality of LED elements disposed to extend vertically
inside both left and right side surface portions of the LED module are mounted; and
an LED guide part disposed vertically inside the both left and right side surface
portions of the LED module and configured to prevent light generated from the LED
elements from entering a rear side provided with the antenna housing part.
13. The antenna apparatus of claim 11, wherein left and right sides inside upper and lower
end portions of the LED module are provided with a detachable guide part in which
a "U"-shaped assembly guide groove open rearward is formed, and
a guide screw hole to which a guide screw passing through the detachable guide part
is assembled is formed in upper and lower end portions of the front housing of the
antenna housing part.
14. The antenna apparatus of claim 2, wherein an element seating part on which an antenna
element assembly including the plurality of radiation elements is seated is provided
flat on a front surface of the front housing of the antenna housing part.
15. The antenna apparatus of claim 14, wherein the element seating part is formed so that
a front surface of the front housing of a portion from which the plurality of forward
heat dissipation fins are removed is recessed to a predetermined depth and formed
to a depth at which an edge end portion of the antenna element assembly is accommodated
deeper than front ends of the plurality of forward heat dissipation fins.
16. The antenna apparatus of claim 14, wherein the antenna element assembly includes:
a printed circuit board for a radiation element coupled in close contact with a front
surface of the element seating part;
an antenna patch circuit part formed by being printed on a front surface of the printed
circuit board for a radiation element;
an antenna assembly cover made of a plastic resin material and configured to shield
the front surface of the printed circuit board for a radiation element including the
antenna patch circuit part; and
a plurality of radiation directors made of a thermally conductive material, disposed
on a front surface of the antenna assembly cover, and each electrically connected
to the antenna patch circuit part through one of a plurality of through holes formed
to pass through the antenna assembly cover in a front-rear direction.