Global positioning system antenna fixed height tripod adapter

US5614918A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Steven J. Dinardo · Simi Valley, US
• Mark A. Smith · Ayer, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 24, 1996
• Grant date: Mar 25, 1997
• Expiry date: Jul 24, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01Q3/02
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An improved Global Positioning em antenna adaptor allows fixed antenna height measurements by removably attaching an adaptor plate to a conventional surveyor's tripod. Antenna height is controlled by an antenna boom which is a fixed length rod. The antenna is attached to one end of the boom. The opposite end of the boom tapers to a point sized to fit into a depression at the center of survey markers. The boom passes through the hollow center of a universal ball joint which is mounted at the center of the adaptor plate so that the point of the rod can be fixed in the marker's central depression. The mountains of the ball joint allow the joint to be moved horizontally in any direction relative to the tripod. When the ball joint is moved horizontally, the angle between the boom and the vertical changes because the boom's position is fixed at its lower end. A spirit level attached to the rod allows an operator to determine when the boom is plumb. The position of the ball joint is adjusted horizontally until the boom is plumb. At that time the antenna is positioned exactly over the center of the monument and the elevation of the antenna is precisely set by the length of the boom.