Multi-sector antennas

• US 10,164,332 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ubiquiti Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. (Ubiquiti Inc.)
• Inventors: Pera, Robert J., Sanford, John R., Sun, Yanwei
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Amal
• Application Number:
  US14/862,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20160104942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/523 between antennas of an array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/10 using reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00

Abstract

Multi-directional antenna assemblies including a plurality of individual antenna sections arranged in-line with a long axis, forming a linear assembly. An antenna assembly may include a radome over the linear assembly. A linear assembly may include three or more antenna sections, each with a trough-like reflector formed by two parallel walls, and may have corrugations at the outer edges to reduce noise. An array of radiators may be positioned at the base of each antenna section. The antenna sections may share a common vertical axis and each may have a beam axes that is offset by an angle. Adjacent antenna sections may be separated by an isolation plate with a corrugated outer edge. Each antenna section may radiate greater power in a specific direction as compared to the other antenna sections.

Claims

1. An antenna assembly having a first axis, the antenna assembly comprising:

a first antenna section that is linearly between a second antenna section and a third antenna section, wherein the first, second and third antenna sections are in the first axis, further wherein each of the first, second and third antenna sections include;

an elongate trough extending in the first axis, wherein the elongate trough comprises a first wall, a second wall, and a base extending between the first wall and the second wall,

an opening into the trough between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the opening has a width that is larger than a width at the base,

a radiator array comprises an array of radiator elements arranged in a line at the base along in the first axis,

a corrugation on the first wall along an edge of the first wall opposite the base comprising a plurality of ridges extending in the first axis, and

a corrugation on the second wall along an edge of the second wall opposite the base comprising a plurality of ridges extending in the first axis; and

a first isolation plate between the first and second antenna section, and a second isolation plate between the second and third antenna sections, wherein the first and second isolation plates each comprise a plurality of ridges extending parallel to an outer edge and forming a corrugation along the outer edge.

2. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein each antenna section is oriented along the first vertical axis so that the output beam axis of each antenna section points in a different direction that is offset by more than about 10 degrees from any other output beam axis of any antenna section.

3. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the first wall and the second wall are positioned perpendicular to the isolation plate.

4. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the radiator array comprises a line of circular disks.

5. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the base of a first antenna section is rotated 30 degrees relative to the base of a second antenna section, and is rotated 60 degrees relative to the base of a third antenna section.

6. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the radiator array comprises an array of radiator elements arranged in a line along in the first axis.

7. The antenna assembly of claim 1, further comprising a radome positioned over the antenna assembly covering each of the antenna sections.

8. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna sections have identical output beamwidths.

9. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the output beamwidth for each antenna section is 60 degrees.

10. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the combined beamwidth of all the antenna sections is 90 degrees.

11. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein a beam axis of a first antenna section is radially separated by 30 degrees from a beam axis of a second antenna section and 60 degrees from a beam axis of third antenna section.

12. The antenna assembly of claim 11, wherein the second antenna section is positioned between the first and third antenna sections.

13. The antenna assembly of claim 11, wherein the first antenna section is positioned between the second and third antenna sections.

14. The antenna assembly of claim 11, wherein the third antenna section is positioned between the first and second antenna sections.

15. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein each antenna section has varying output beamwidths.

16. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein at least two of the antenna sections have identical beamwidths.