Wireless Local Area Network Antenna Array

• US 20080267151A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cambium Networks Limited (Cambium Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Xirrus Incorporated
• Inventors: Hartenstein, Abraham
• Granted Patent: US 8,184,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/106 using two or more intersecting plane surfaces, e.g. corner reflector antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A wireless local area network (“WLAN”) antenna array (“WLANAA”) is disclosed. The WLANAA may include a circular housing having a plurality of radial sectors and a plurality of primary antenna elements. Each individual primary antenna element of the plurality of primary antenna elements may be positioned within an individual radial sector of the plurality of radial sectors.

Claims

1. A wireless local area network (“

WLAN”

) antenna array (“

WLANAA”

) comprising;

a circular housing having a plurality of radial sectors; and

a plurality of primary antenna elements wherein each individual primary antenna element of the plurality of primary antenna elements is positioned within an individual radial sector of the plurality of radial sectors.

2. The WLANAA of claim 1, further including a plurality of main reflector elements wherein each main reflector element of the plurality of main reflector elements is located adjacent to each antenna element.

3. The WLANAA of claim 2, wherein the plurality of main reflector elements are part of a continuous main reflector element that is circular in shape.

4. The WLANAA of claim 2, wherein each primary antenna element is located a quarter wavelength away from each main reflector element.

5. The WLANAA of claim 2, further including a plurality of absorber elements wherein each absorber element of the plurality of the absorber elements is located between an adjacent pair of primary antenna elements.

6. The WLANAA of claim 5, further including a plurality of deflector elements wherein each deflector element of the plurality of deflector elements is located adjacent to each primary antenna element.

7. The WLANAA of claim 1, wherein the primary antenna elements are coupled line dipoles.

8. The WLANAA of claim 7, wherein the coupled line dipoles are configured to operate in a band of frequencies described by IEEE 802.11a.

9. The WLANAA of claim 1, wherein the wherein the primary antenna elements are a pair of coupled line dipoles.

10. The WLANAA of claim 9, wherein the coupled line dipoles are configured to operate in a band of frequencies described by IEEE 802.11a.

11. The WLANAA of claim 1, further including a plurality of secondary antenna elements within the circular housing, wherein each secondary antenna element of the plurality of secondary antenna elements is located within a circular sector of the circular housing.

12. The WLANAA of claim 11, wherein each secondary antenna element is a single bent monopole antenna sharing a sector with one of the primary antenna elements.

13. The WLANAA of claim 12, wherein the single bent monopole antennas are configured to operate in a band of frequencies described by IEEE 802.11b.

14. The WLANAA of claim 12, wherein the single bent monopole antennas are configured to operate in a band of frequencies described by IEEE 802.11g.

15. The WLANAA of claim 11, wherein each secondary antenna element is a two element array of bent monopole antennas sharing a sector with one of the primary antenna elements.

16. The WLANAA of claim 15, wherein the two element array are configured to operate in a band of frequencies described by IEEE 802.11b.

17. The WLANAA of claim 15, wherein the two element array are configured to operate in a band of frequencies described by IEEE 802.11g.

18. A method for radiating multiple antenna patterns in a wireless local area network (“

WLAN”

) antenna array (“

WLANAA”

), the method comprising;

transmitting a first plurality of transmission signals from a plurality of radios located in radial sectors of a circular housing, wherein the first plurality of transmission signals are produced with a plurality of primary antenna elements;

reflecting parts of the first plurality of transmission signals with a plurality of main reflectors;

deflecting parts of the first plurality of transmission signals with a plurality of deflectors; and

absorbing parts of the first plurality of transmission signals with a plurality of absorber elements.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting includes transmitting utilizing non-overlapping channels.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein transmitting includes transmitting the first plurality of transmission signals that conform to the IEEE 802.11a frequency standard.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein transmitting includes transmitting the first plurality of transmission signals,

wherein individual transmission signals from the first plurality of transmission signals have individual radiation patterns, and

wherein the individual radiation patterns overlap for corresponding individual primary antenna elements, of the plurality of primary antenna elements, that are located adjacent to each other.

22. The method of claim 21, further including transmitting a second plurality of transmission signals from a second plurality of radios located in radial sectors of the circular housing, wherein the second plurality of transmission signals are produced with a plurality of secondary antenna elements.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein transmitting includes transmitting utilizing non-overlapping channels.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein transmitting includes transmitting the second plurality of transmission signals that conform to the IEEE 802.11b frequency standard.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein transmitting a second plurality of transmission signals includes transmitting the second plurality of transmission signals,

wherein individual transmission signals from the second plurality of transmission signals have individual secondary radiation patterns, and

wherein the individual secondary radiation patterns overlap for corresponding individual secondary antenna elements, of the plurality of secondary antenna elements, that are located adjacent to each other.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein transmitting includes transmitting the second plurality of transmission signals that conform to the IEEE 802.11g frequency standard.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein transmitting a second plurality of transmission signals includes transmitting the second plurality of transmission signals,

wherein individual transmission signals from the second plurality of transmission signals have individual secondary radiation patterns, and

wherein the individual secondary radiation patterns overlap for corresponding individual secondary antenna elements, of the plurality of secondary antenna elements, that are located adjacent to each other.