Integrated power receptacle wireless access point (AP) adapter devices

• US 10,574,474 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2017
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ubiquiti Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ubiquiti Inc.
• Inventors: Pera, Robert J., Frei, Randall W., Cheng, Linker
• Primary Examiner(s): Azad, Md
• Application Number:
  US15/834,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20180145844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 700 90
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

Integrated power receptacle wireless access point (AP) adapter devices for adapting a power-over-Ethernet (PoE) wall outlet into an access point. Described herein are scalable, dedicated adapters that may be used to adapt an Ethernet wall jack (PoE or non-PoE) into an access point, gigabit switch and PoE power source. These apparatuses may interface with an Ethernet wall jack connected to a network, converting the Ethernet wall jack to an access point and also include a plurality of additional Ethernet connections, including at least one power-over-Ethernet connection.

Claims

1. An integrated power receptacle wireless access point (AP) adapter device for adapting a power-over-Ethernet wall outlet into an access point (AP), the device comprising:

a plate comprising a housing, the plate configured to be fitted over an Ethernet jack box mounted in a wall outlet;

a first connector comprising an Ethernet connector on a side of the plate;

a second connector comprising a power-over-Ethernet connector on the side of the plate;

a third connector configured to connect to a Ethernet connector on a back of the plate;

a first radio within the housing configured to operate at a first frequency;

a second radio within the housing configured to operate at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency;

at least one antenna within the housing, wherein the at least one antenna is connected to the first and the second radio, wherein the at least one antenna comprises an emitter/radiator surface, further wherein the emitter/radiator surface is formed as part of a single feed having two or more isolated antenna input feeds;

a wireless AP circuit within the housing configured to receive data from the third connector and to wirelessly transmit the data using one or both of the first radio and the second radio, and further configured to receive wireless data on the at least one antenna and to transmit the received data to the third connector; and

a mount configured to mount the plate over the Ethernet jack box.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first frequency is 2.4 GHz and the second frequency is 5 GHz.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an attachment for coupling the housing to the Ethernet jack box.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second connector comprises an Ethernet port on the bottom side of the housing.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a front cover configured to cover the plate.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second connectors are on a bottom side edge of the plate.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises an Ethernet RJ-45 connector.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising an LED indicator visible on the front of the plate.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna is a microstrip antenna.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the plate is configured to permit transmission of wireless signals from the at least one antenna.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a pair of antennas wherein the pair of antennas is connected to a processor and switch controls.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein a shape of the emitter/radiator surface of the antenna is configured to be adjustable, thereby optimizing an emitting pattern.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the antenna further comprises one or more reflectors.

14. An integrated power receptacle wireless access point (AP) adapter device for adapting a power-over-Ethernet wall outlet into an access point (AP), the device comprising:

a plate comprising a housing, the plate configured to be fitted over an Ethernet jack box mounted in a wall outlet;

a first connector comprising an Ethernet connector on a side of the plate;

a second connector comprising a power-over-Ethernet connector on the side of the plate;

a third connector configured to connect to a Ethernet connector on a back of the plate and to receive power and data;

a first radio within the housing configured to operate at 2.4 GHz;

a second radio within the housing configured to operate at 5 GHz;

at least one antenna within the housing, wherein the at least one antenna is connected to the first and the second radio, wherein the at least one antenna comprises an emitter/radiator surface, wherein the emitter/radiator surface is formed as part of a single feed having two or more isolated antenna input feeds; and

a wireless AP circuit within the housing configured to receive data from the third connector and to wirelessly transmit the data using one or both of the first radio and the second radio, and further configured to receive wireless data on the at least one antenna and to transmit the received data to the third connector.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises an attachment for coupling the housing to the Ethernet jack box.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the second connector comprises an Ethernet port on the bottom side of the housing.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising a front cover configured to cover the plate.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the first and second connectors are on a bottom side edge of the plate.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the first connector comprises an Ethernet RJ-45 connector.

20. The device of claim 14, further comprising an LED indicator visible on the front of the plate.

21. An integrated power receptacle wireless access point (AP) adapter device for adapting a power-over-Ethernet wall outlet into an access point (AP), the device comprising:

a plate comprising a housing, the plate configured to be fitted over an Ethernet jack box mounted in a wall outlet;

a first connector comprising an Ethernet connector on a bottom side of the plate;

a second connector comprising a power-over-Ethernet connector on the bottom side of the plate;

a third connector on the back of the plate configured to connect to a power-over-Ethernet connector within the Ethernet jack box and to receive power and data;

a first radio within the housing configured to operate at 2.4 GHz;

a second radio within the housing configured to operate at 5 GHz;

at least one antenna within the housing, wherein the at least one antenna is connected to the first and the second radio, wherein the at least one antenna comprises an emitter/radiator surface, wherein the emitter/radiator surface is formed as part of a single feed having two or more isolated antenna input feeds;

a wireless AP circuit within the housing configured to receive data from the third connector and to wirelessly transmit the data using one or both of the first radio and the second radio, and further configured to receive wireless data on the at least one antenna and to transmit the received data to the third connector; and

a mount configured to mount the plate over the Ethernet jack box.