Patents Assigned to Vodaphone Limited
  • Patent number: 6912408
    Abstract: A conventional lamp post comprises a mast (5) carrying a lamp unit (6) and with an enclosure (8) at its base, incorporating power and control circuitry for the lamp unit (6). In addition, however, one or more antennas (10, 12) for the base station of a cellular telephone system is or are mounted on the mast (5). The circuitry for the base station is mounted in an enclosure (14) which is immediately adjacent to the base of the lamp post and electrically connected to the antenna (10, 12). By incorporating the components of the base station on and immediately adjacent to the lamp post, a base station can be located within an urban environment and with minimal physical or visual impact. Any other suitable item of normal street furniture can be used instead of a lamp post. The circuitry of the base station can be incorporated in the item of street furniture itself, instead of in a separate enclosure (14). Some of the circuitry of the base station is common with some of the circuitry for the street furniture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Vodaphone Limited
    Inventors: Gerard O'Neill, Bob Banks