Wireless local area network antenna array

• US 8,519,902 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2012
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cambium Networks Limited (Cambium Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Xirrus Incorporated
• Inventors: Hartenstein, Abraham
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US13/487,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 343/793, 343/872, 343/873, 343/878, 343/879, 343/797, 343/798, 343/799, 343/810, 343/815
• US Class Current: 343/799
• 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 method for radiating multiple antenna patterns in a wireless local area network antenna array, 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;

generating individual radiation patterns from individual primary antenna elements in corresponding radial sectors, the corresponding radial sectors including reflecting and deflecting components for forming the individual radiation patterns to cover corresponding areas extending radially from each radial sector; and

isolating the individual radiation patterns from adjacent radial sectors using absorbing components.

2. The method of claim 1 where the step of generating the individual radiation patterns includes the step of:

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

3. The method of claim 1 where the step of generating the individual radiation patterns includes the step of:

deflecting parts of the first plurality of transmission signals with a plurality of deflectors.

4. The method of claim 1 where the step of isolating the individual radiation patterns includes the step of:

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

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting includes transmitting utilizing non-overlapping channels.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting includes transmitting the first plurality of transmission signals that conform to the IEEE 802.11a frequency standard.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting includes transmitting the first plurality of transmission signals,

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.

8. The method of claim 7, 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.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting includes transmitting utilizing non-overlapping channels.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting includes transmitting the second plurality of transmission signals that conform to the IEEE 802.11b frequency standard.

11. The method of claim 10, 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.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting includes transmitting the second plurality of transmission signals that conform to the IEEE 802.11g frequency standard.

13. The method of claim 12, 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.