Diversity antenna for UNII access point

• US 20030227414A1
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frank, Timothy A., Anderson, Fred J., Mass, James A., Saliga, Stephen V.
• Granted Patent: US 6,781,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/725
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/084 Pivotable antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/12 Supports; Mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/02 using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Abstract

A combination of near omni-directional antennas and internal patch antennas, all built into an access point in accordance with FCC requirements. Typically a printed antenna array is used for the near omni-directional antenna, and the internal patch antenna is a TM10 mode stacked patch antenna. A mechanical detect switch changes antenna types automatically, depending on the rotation state of the antenna system. Alternately, a configuration utility enables a user to select the antenna type for the access point when it is installed in the field. This arrangement gives the UNII access point flexibility to be mounted in various orientations and match the characteristics of the antenna to the installation requirements.

Claims

1. A diversity antenna system, comprising:

a near omni-directional antenna;

an internal patch antenna; and

,

configuration means for selecting antenna type, the antenna type being one of the group consisting of the near omni-directional antenna and the internal patch antenna..

2. The diversity antenna system of claim 1, wherein the configurable antenna system is rotatably mounted.

3. The diversity antenna system of claim 1, the internal patch antenna comprising a TM10 mode patch antenna.

4. The diversity antenna system of claim 1 wherein the configuration means is one of the group consisting of:

a mechanical detect switch operable to determine the antenna type to be deployed, and

a microprocessor having computer readable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, the computer readable instructions comprising,

computer readable instructions for receiving input from a user;

computer readable instructions responsive to said input for selecting the type of antenna based on said input.

5. The diversity antenna system of claim 1, the configuration means comprising a mechanical detect switch, said detect switch sensing the orientation of the diversity antenna and selecting the antenna type based on said orientation.

6. A diversity antenna system for a UNII access point, comprising:

an internal, captured, rotatably mounted near omni-directional antenna;

a circuit board mounted inside the access point, the circuit board comprising;

a near omni-directional antenna,

a TM10 mode patch antenna; and

a configuration means for selecting the antenna type, the antenna type being one of the group of internal, captured, rotatably mounted near omni-directional antenna, the near omni-directional antenna and the TM10 patch mode antenna.

7. The diversity antenna system of claim 6 wherein the configuration means comprises a mechanical detect switch.

8. The diversity antenna system of claim 6, wherein the configuration means comprises:

a semiconductor switch; and

a microprocessor having computer readable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, the computer readable instructions comprising,

computer readable instructions for receiving input from a user;

computer readable instructions responsive to said input for selecting the type of antenna based on said input by controlling the semiconductor switch.

9. The antenna system of claim 6, wherein the access point is selected from the group consisting of a UNII-1 and a UNII-2 access point.

10. A diversity antenna system for a UNII access point, comprising:

an internal, captured, rotatably mounted near omni-directional antenna;

a circuit board mounted inside the access point, the circuit board comprising;

a near omni-directional antenna,

a TM10 mode patch antenna,

a semiconductor switch for switching to one of the internal, captured, rotatably mounted near omni-directional antenna, the near omni-directional antenna, and the TM10 mode patch antenna;

connection means adapted to connect the internal, captured, rotatably mounted near omni-directional antenna, the near omni-directional antenna, and the TM10 mode patch antenna to the semiconductor switch; and

a configuration means adapted to cause the semiconductor to switch for selecting the antenna type, the antenna type being one of the group of the internal, captured, rotatably mounted near omni-directional antenna, the near omni-directional antenna and the TM10 patch mode antenna.