Wireless local area network antenna array

• US 8,963,792 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• 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:
  US13/477,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20120293386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 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 wireless local area network (“

WLAN”

) antenna array (“

WLANAA”

) comprising;

a circular housing having a plurality of radial sectors;

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;

a plurality of radios positioned within the plurality of radial sectors and connected to the plurality of primary antenna elements;

where the plurality of primary antenna elements and corresponding radial sectors are configured to generate a plurality of radiation patterns corresponding to the plurality of radios and to provide isolation between adjacent radial sectors;

a plurality of main reflector elements wherein each main reflector element of the plurality of main reflector elements is located adjacent to a corresponding primary antenna element;

where the plurality of main reflector elements are part of a continuous main reflector element that is circular in shape and each primary antenna element is located a quarter wavelength away from each main reflector element; and

a plurality of absorber elements wherein each absorber element of the plurality of absorber elements is located between an adjacent pair of primary antenna elements.

2. The WLANAA of claim 1, 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.

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

4. The WLANAA of claim 3, wherein the coupled line dipoles are configured to operate in a band of frequencies described by IEEE 802.11a.

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

6. The WLANAA of claim 5, wherein the coupled line dipoles are configured to operate in a band of frequencies described by IEEE 802.11a.

7. 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.

8. The WLANAA of claim 7, wherein each secondary antenna element is a single bent monopole antenna sharing a sector with one of the primary antenna elements.

9. The WLANAA of claim 8, wherein the single bent monopole antennas are configured to operate in a band of frequencies described by IEEE 802.11b.

10. The WLANAA of claim 8, wherein the single bent monopole antennas are configured to operate in a band of frequencies described by IEEE 802.11g.

11. The WLANAA of claim 7, wherein each secondary antenna element is a two element array of bent monopole antennas sharing a sector with one of the primary antenna elements.

12. The WLANAA of claim 11, wherein the two element array are configured to operate in a band of frequencies described by IEEE 802.11b.

13. The WLANAA of claim 11, wherein the two element arrays are configured to operate in a band of frequencies described by IEEE 802.11g.