Modular beamforming apparatus, method and kit

• US 20060287016A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aten-Air LLC
• Original Assignee: Aten-Air LLC
• Inventors: Meyerson, Robert F., Portaro, James David
• Application Number:
  US11/155,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287016A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.700
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a beamforming apparatus for use in combination with a existing WLAN comprising: an antenna control unit; at least one antenna operatively connected to said antenna control unit; an RJ-45 jack operatively connected to said antenna control unit; a power supply operatively connected to said antenna control unit; and a wireless access point jack operatively connected to said antenna control unit.

Claims

1. A modular beamforming apparatus comprising:

a. an antenna control unit;

b. two to eight antennas operatively connected to said antenna control unit;

c. a RJ-45 jack operatively connected to said antenna control unit;

d. a power supply operatively connected to said antenna control unit; and

,

e. a wireless access point jack operatively connected to said antenna control unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means for selecting which of the at least two antennas has greatest potential signal power.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means for forming a directionalized signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said two to eight antennas consists of four antennas.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the existing access point is selected from the group consisting of:

an 802.11a access point, an 802.11b access point, and an 802.11g access point.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna is linearly polarized.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power supply is a connector to an external power source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power supply is a POE tap.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power supply comprises a connector for an 18 g 3 conductor plenum rated cable to the RJ-45 jack.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power supply comprises a voltage converter having an output of about 5 volts to about 12 volts.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless access point jack is an 802.11a/b/g wireless access point port.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an Ethernet controller and a processor, wherein said Ethernet controller is operatively connected to said antenna control unit, said RJ-45 jack, and said power supply, and wherein said processor is operatively connected to said antenna control unit, said RJ-45 jack, and said power supply.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a support structure physically supporting the at least one antenna.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a MAC security layer.

15. A process of forming a directionalized outgoing signal comprising the steps of:

a. connecting a modular beamforming apparatus to a wireless access point,

where said apparatus comprises;

1. an antenna control unit;

2. at least two antennas operatively connected to said antenna control unit;

3. a RJ-45 jack operatively connected to said antenna control unit;

4. a power supply operatively connected to said antenna control unit; and

,

5. a wireless access point jack operatively connected to said antenna control unit,

b. measuring signal strength of an incoming signal;

c. selecting which of the at least two antennas has greatest potential signal power;

d. selectively activating the antenna having the greatest potential signal power; and

,

b. forming a directionalized outgoing signal.

16. The process of claim 15 wherein said modular beamforming apparatus further comprises an Ethernet controller and a processor, wherein said Ethernet controller is operatively connected to said antenna control unit, said RJ-45 jack, and said power supply, and wherein said processor is operatively connected to said antenna control unit, said RJ-45 jack, and said power supply.

17. A kit for retrofitting a WLAN omni-directional transmitter comprising:

a. a modular beamforming apparatus; and

,

b. one plenum rated RG172 coaxial cable

wherein the modular beamforming apparatus comprises;

1. an antenna control unit;

2. at least two antennas operatively connected to said antenna control unit;

3. a RJ-45 jack operatively connected to said antenna control unit;

4. a power supply operatively connected to said antenna control unit; and

,

5. a wireless access point jack operatively connected to said antenna control unit,

18. The kit of claim 17 further comprising an Ethernet controller and a processor, wherein said Ethernet controller is operatively connected to said antenna control unit, said RJ-45 jack, and said power supply, and wherein said processor is operatively connected to said antenna control unit, said RJ-45 jack, and said power supply.