Dual band dual polarization antenna array

• US 8,860,629 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ruckus Wireless, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shtrom, Victor, Kish, William S., Baron, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V
• Application Number:
  US13/681,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20130181882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 343/893, 343/853, 343/795, 343/818, 343/876
• US Class Current: 343/893
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/148 with means for varying the reflecting properties H01Q15/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/24 the primary active element being centre-fed and substantially straight, e.g. H-antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/446 the radiating element being at the centre of one or more rings of auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407

Abstract

A horizontally polarized antenna array allows for the efficient distribution of RF energy into a communications environment through selectable antenna elements and redirectors that create a particular radiation pattern such as a substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern. In conjunction with a vertically polarized array, a particular high-gain wireless environment may be created such that one environment does not interfere with other nearby wireless environments and avoids interference created by those other environments. Lower gain patterns may also be created by using particular configurations of a horizontal and/or vertical antenna array. In a preferred embodiment, the antenna systems disclosed herein are utilized in a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) wireless environment.

Claims

1. A dual band antenna system, comprising:

a horizontally polarized antenna array configured to concurrently operate at a plurality of frequencies, wherein the horizontally polarized antenna array includes a first antenna element and a second antenna element, and wherein the first antenna element is positioned outside of radiation produced by the second antenna element;

a vertically polarized antenna array coupled to the horizontally polarized antenna array and configured to concurrently operate at the plurality of frequencies with the horizontally polarized antenna array; and

an antenna selector configured to communicate a radio frequency signal with selected antenna elements of the horizontally polarized antenna array and vertically polarized antenna array.

2. The dual band antenna system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of frequencies includes a first frequency which is higher than a second frequency of the plurality of frequencies.

3. The dual band antenna system of claim 2, wherein a first selected antenna element operates at about 2.4 GHz and a second selected antenna element operates at about 5.0 GHz.

4. The dual band antenna system of claim 2, wherein a first selected antenna element and a second selected antenna element are on a single printed circuit board.

5. The dual band antenna system of claim 1, wherein the horizontally polarized antenna array includes a first antenna element that operates at a first frequency and a second antenna element that operates at a second frequency.

6. The dual band antenna system of claim 1, wherein a circuit board hosting the vertically polarized antenna array couples with a circuit board hosting the horizontally polarized antenna array through a slit in the circuit board hosting the horizontally polarized antenna array.

7. The dual band antenna system of claim 1, wherein the antenna selector controls a plurality of switches to couple each antenna element of the horizontally polarized antenna array and each antenna element of the vertically polarized antenna array to a modulator/demodulator.

8. The dual band antenna system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of reflectors for reflecting a radiation pattern of the horizontally polarized antenna array or the vertically polarized antenna array.

9. The dual band antenna system of claim 8, wherein the antenna selector couples a selected reflector to reflect the radiation pattern.

10. The dual band antenna system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of directors for directing a radiation pattern of the horizontally polarized antenna array or the vertically polarized antenna array.