Synchronized multiple-radio antenna systems and methods
First Claim
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1. A method of combining a plurality of radios so that they simultaneously send or receive from a single antenna, the method comprising:
- passively combining the inputs of each of the plurality of radios into a single output coupled to the single antenna;
synchronizing each of the plurality of radios using a GPS signal, so that each of the plurality of radios is operating on a same duty cycle;
simultaneously transmitting RF signals from each of the plurality of radios using the single antenna, wherein each of the plurality of radios transmits in adjacent different frequency channels without the use of a guard band; and
simultaneously receiving RF signals in each of the plurality of radios using the single antenna.
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Abstract
Multi-radio antenna apparatuses and stations for wireless networks including multiple radios coupled to a single transmit/receive antenna, in which the antenna is highly synchronized by an external (e.g., GPS) signal. These multi-radio antenna systems may provide highly resilient links. Synchronization may allow these apparatuses to organically scale the transmission throughput while preventing data loss. The single transmit/receive antenna may have a single dish or a compound (e.g., a single pair of separate transmitting and receiving dishes) and connections for two or more radios.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of combining a plurality of radios so that they simultaneously send or receive from a single antenna, the method comprising:
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passively combining the inputs of each of the plurality of radios into a single output coupled to the single antenna; synchronizing each of the plurality of radios using a GPS signal, so that each of the plurality of radios is operating on a same duty cycle; simultaneously transmitting RF signals from each of the plurality of radios using the single antenna, wherein each of the plurality of radios transmits in adjacent different frequency channels without the use of a guard band; and simultaneously receiving RF signals in each of the plurality of radios using the single antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of combining a plurality of radios so that they simultaneously send or receive from a single antenna, the method comprising:
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passively combining the inputs of each of the plurality of radios into a single output coupled to the single antenna; periodically synchronizing each of the plurality of radios using a GPS signal, wherein each of the plurality of radios is operating on a same duty cycle; transmitting a synchronized master timing preamble from each of the plurality of radios; simultaneously transmitting RF signals from each of the plurality of radios using the single antenna, wherein each of the plurality of radios operates in different frequency channels; simultaneously receiving RF signals in each of the plurality of radios using the single antenna; and synchronizing a duty cycle of a first remote slave radio with the plurality of radios using the master timing preamble. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A multiplexer apparatus for combining a plurality of radios so that they simultaneously send or receive from a single antenna, the apparatus comprising:
- a first external mount configured to hold a first radio, and a first input configured to connect to an input of the first radio;
a second external mount configured to hold a second radio and a second input configured to connect to an input of the second radio; a passive power divider/combiner coupled to the first input and the second input, the passive power divider/combiner configured to passively combine RF signals from the first and second input and output them to an antenna port and to divide the RF signals from the antenna port between the first and second inputs; a multiplexer circuitry in communication with each of the first and second radio and configured establish a duty cycle for the first and second radio and indicate that the first and second radio should synchronize via an external GPS signal; and
the single antenna coupled to the first and second external mounts, wherein an antenna feed is coupled to the antenna port. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- a first external mount configured to hold a first radio, and a first input configured to connect to an input of the first radio;
Specification