Self-leveling antenna with antenna suspended in liquid
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsMitchell Joseph Henrich, Brian Wasson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides a device for providing connectivity to a balloon network. The device may include a sealed vessel partially filled with a liquid. The device may also include a floating base that is comprised of a material that is positively buoyant in the liquid. The device may also include an antenna coupled to the floating base. The antenna may be configured to receive and emit radiation. The antenna and the floating base may be positioned within the sealed vessel, and the floating base may be configured to position the antenna such that the antenna emits an emission pattern that is substantially perpendicular to a surface of the liquid.
Claims18
A device comprising:
- a sealed vessel partially filled with a liquid;
- a floating base that is comprised of a first material that is positively buoyant in the liquid, wherein a bottom surface of the floating base is substantially planar;
- a weight coupled to the bottom surface of the floating base, wherein the weight is comprised of a second material that is negatively buoyant in the liquid;
- and
- an antenna coupled to the floating base, wherein the antenna is configured to receive and emit radiation, wherein the antenna and the floating base are positioned within the sealed vessel, and wherein the floating base is configured to position the antenna such that the antenna emits an emission pattern that is substantially perpendicular to a surface of the liquid.
A device comprising:
- a sealed vessel partially filled with a liquid;
- an antenna configured to receive and emit radiation;
- a floating base having a first side and a substantially planar second side, wherein the floating base is comprised of a first material that is positively buoyant in the liquid, wherein the first side of the floating base is coupled to the antenna and the second side of the floating base is positioned to float on the liquid inside of the sealed vessel, and wherein the floating base is configured to position a base of the antenna at a non-zero angle with respect to the liquid such that radiation is emitted from the antenna at the non-zero angle with respect to plumb;
- and
- a weight coupled to the second side of the floating base, wherein the weight is comprised of a second material that is negatively buoyant in the liquid.
A method comprising:
- providing a liquid to a vessel such that the liquid does not fill the vessel;
- coupling a radiator to a reflector such that there is a separation distance between the radiator and the reflector, wherein the radiator is configured to emit radiation according to a feed signal, and wherein the reflector is configured to direct radiation emitted from the radiator such that reflected radiation is characterized by an emission pattern;
- coupling a first side of a floating base to the reflector, wherein the floating base is comprised of a first material that is positively buoyant in the liquid;
- coupling a second side of the floating base to a weight, wherein the second side is substantially planar, and wherein the weight is comprised of a second material that is negatively buoyant in the liquid;
- positioning the floating base on the liquid inside of the vessel;
- and
- sealing the vessel to prevent the liquid from escaping the vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.