Antenna feed system

• US 10,297,922 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2013
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ubiquiti Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. (Ubiquiti Inc.)
• Inventors: Pera, Robert J., Sanford, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Munoz, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Amal
• Application Number:
  US13/783,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20130199033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,271 Days
• Field of Search: 343840, 343833, 343834, 343779, 343786, 343757, 343761, 343754, 343758
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/191 wherein the primary active element uses one or more deflecting surfaces, e.g. beam waveguide feeds
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/193 with feed supported subreflector splash plate feeds H01Q19/134
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/28 using a secondary device in the form of two or more substantially straight conductive elements log- periodic antennas H01Q11/10; constituting a reflecting surface H01Q19/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.

Abstract

A microwave system comprises an antenna, antenna feed, a radio transceiver, and appropriate cabling among the aforementioned. Cost, performance and reliability improvements are achieved with further integration of these elements and with design improvements in the antenna feed. One improvement is the integration of the radio transceiver with the antenna feed. This improvement has many benefits including the to elimination of RF cables and connectors. Another improvement, is the incorporation of parasitic radiators and sub-reflectors as part to of the antenna feed. The entire antenna, including the feed design is optimized with 3D finite element method (FEM) software and numerical optimization software. Another improvement is the utilization of the digital cable to power the integrated radio transceiver and a center fed parabolic reflector.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal comprising:

receiving a digital signal at a radio transceiver, wherein the radio transceiver is located on a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board is positioned along an axis of symmetry of a parabolic reflector, said circuit board having a distal portion positioned towards a focal point of the parabolic reflector, said circuit board having a proximal portion positioned away from the focal point of the parabolic reflector;

generating an RF signal from the radio transceiver, wherein the RF signal is coupled to an antenna feed conductor which in turn is coupled to an active antenna element located on the distal portion of the printed circuit board;

radiating radio waves from the active antenna element;

reflecting focused radio waves off a sub-reflector toward the parabolic reflector;

receiving the digital signal at a digital connector, said digital connector located on a surface of the printed circuit board;

directing the digital signal from the digital connector to the radio transceiver, and

powering the radio transceiver from the digital connector;

wherein the radio transceiver includes a client controller that supports OSI layers.