Antenna Feed System

• US 20100309085A1
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ubiquiti Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. (Ubiquiti Inc.)
• Inventors: Sanford, John R., Pera, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,493,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/840
• 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. An antenna feed system comprising:

a center fed parabolic reflector; and

a radio transceiver,

wherein the radio transceiver is physically integrated with the center fed parabolic reflector.

12. The antenna feed system of claim 1 wherein the center fed parabolic reflector is a grid reflector.

2. The antenna feed system of claim further comprising:

a connector for a digital signal connection;

one or more antenna feed pins;

one or more director pins; and

one or more sub-reflectors.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein elements of the antenna feed system are integrated on a printed circuit board.

4. The antenna feed system of claim 2 wherein the design of the antenna feed system comprises specifying the location, dimensions, and shapes of the one or more antenna feed pins, the one or more director pins and the one or more sub-reflectors.

5. The antenna feed system of claim 4 wherein the design of the antenna feed system is determined by numerical optimization software that optimizes the performance of antenna system, wherein the antenna system comprises the antenna feed system and its associated housing, and a parabolic reflector.

6. The antenna feed system of claim 5 wherein the performance of the antenna system is optimized based on return loss and the gain of the antenna system.

7. The antenna feed system of claim 2 wherein the director pins and the antenna feed pins are mounted perpendicular to the antenna feed system.

8. The antenna feed system of claim 7 wherein surface mounted pins are used for the director pins and the antenna feed pins.

9. The antenna feed system of claim 2 wherein digital connector is either an Ethernet connector or a USB connector.

10. The antenna feed system of claim 2 wherein the antenna feed system is enclosed in a weather proof housing.

11. The antenna feed system of claim 10 wherein the weather proof housing supports interchangeable sub-reflectors.

13. A method of receiving and transmitting to and from an antenna feed system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving and transmitting a non-baseband signal to and from a center fed parabolic reflector,

coupling the non-baseband signal to a radio transceiver;

encoding and decoding the non-baseband signal in the radio transceiver;

generating and receiving a baseband signal in the radio transceiver; and

coupling the baseband signal to a digital connector,

wherein the radio transceiver is physically integrated with the center fed parabolic reflector.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the antenna feed system further comprises:

one or more antenna feed pins;

one or more director pins; and

one or more sub-reflectors.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein elements of the antenna feed system are integrated on a printed circuit board.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the design of the antenna feed system comprises specifying the location, dimensions, and shapes of the one or more antenna feed pins, the one or more director pins and the one or more sub-reflectors.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the design of the antenna feed system is determined by numerical optimization software that optimizes the performance of antenna system, wherein the antenna system comprises the antenna feed system and its associated housing, and a parabolic reflector.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the performance of the antenna system is optimized based on return loss and the gain of the antenna system.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the director pins and the antenna feed pins are mounted perpendicular to the antenna feed system.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein surface mounted pins are used for the director pins and the antenna feed pins.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the digital connector is either an Ethernet connector or a USB connector.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the antenna feed system is enclosed in a weather proof housing.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the weather proof housing supports interchangeable sub-reflectors.

24. The method of claim 13 wherein the center fed parabolic reflector is a grid reflector.

25. An antenna feed system comprising:

a corner reflector; and

a radio transceiver,

wherein the radio transceiver is physically integrated with the corner reflector.