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US 10,897,304 B2Granted
System for employing cellular telephone networks to operate, control and communicate with unmannded aerial vehicles and remote piloted vehicles
AssigneeRhombus Systems Group, Inc.
InventorErlend Olson
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Abstract
A cellular type communications system for cellular telephone networks to operate, control and communicate with unmanned aerial vehicles and remote piloted vehicles, the system including a first near-ground region to communicate with devices near the ground, as well as one or more layers covering roughly the same areal extent as the ground region but which are separated from each other and also elevated above ground substantially, and within which an aerial vehicle may rely on communications using the cell-based communications network.
Claims22
A cellular type communications system comprising:
- a first near-ground layer configured to communicate with cellular devices near the ground, said first near-ground layer comprising a first areal zone;
- at least one second layer configured to cover a substantially similar areal extent as said first areal zone, wherein said second layer comprises an elevated areal zone, wherein said second layer elevated areal zone is separated from said first areal zone, and wherein said second layer elevated areal zone is elevated substantially above ground, wherein said second layer is configured to communicate and within which an aerial vehicle may rely on communications using the cell-based communications network;
- a cellular network base station including transceiver equipment;
- at least one antenna system being configured to radiate radio frequency energy skyward;
- wherein said transceiver equipment comprises components configured for effectuating communications in said near-ground layer and components configured for effectuating communications in said second areal zone;
- a cellular network base station fixed transceiver antenna mount;
- wherein said transceiver equipment components comprise first transceiver equipment for effectuating communications in said near-ground layer and second transceiver equipment for effectuating communications with vehicles in the air within said second areal zone;
- said at least one antenna system comprising at least one antenna mounted on said cellular network base station fixed transceiver antenna mount, wherein said antenna system is configured to radiate radio frequency energy skyward over some subtended angle in a cone or other shape;
- said antenna system being connected to said second transceiver equipment;
- wherein said second antenna system comprises one or more skyward pointing antennas;
- wherein said one or more skyward pointing antennas propagates a signal in said second areal zone;
- wherein said one or more skyward pointing antennas propagates a skyward signal, and wherein said skyward signal is polarized;
- and
- wherein two sets of skyward signals are radiated skyward of differing sets of frequencies, where the angles subtended by the radiation pattern differ in order to effectuate continuous communications coverage for differing elevation bands above said one or more skyward pointing antennas.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.