Pattern shaping of RF emission patterns

• US 7,893,882 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ruckus Wireless, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shtrom, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US11/971,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20080204331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/700.MS, 343/876, 343/767, 343770-771
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/00 Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic combination of horns with slotted waveguide array H01Q13/0233
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/021 Means for reducing undesirable effects
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/26 Turnstile or like antennas comprising arrangements of three or more elongated elements disposed radially and symmetrically in a horizontal plane about a common centre
• 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: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407

Abstract

A metallic shaping plate located in the interior housing of a wireless device is disclosed. The metallic shaping plate may influence a radiation pattern being generated by a horizontal antenna array. The result may be an increase in the gain of the array.

Claims

1. A wireless device, comprising:

a horizontal antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements, wherein two or more of the plurality of antenna elements are selectively coupled to a radio frequency feed port to generate a substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern having less directionality than the directional radiation pattern of a single antenna element, the substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern being substantially in the plane of the horizontal antenna array;

a housing enclosing the horizontal antenna array;

at least one metallic shaping plate, the metallic shaping plate coupled to the interior of the housing and substantially centered with respect to the central, vertical axis of the horizontal antenna array, the placement of the at least one metallic shaping plate causing a change in the substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern generated by the horizontal antenna array.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the change in the substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern caused by the metallic shaping plate is a flattening of the pattern, thereby increasing the gain of the radiation pattern generated by the horizontal antenna array.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the metallic shaping plate is substantially circular.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the change in the change in the substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern caused by the metallic plate comprises a change in the tilt of the radiation pattern generated by the horizontal array.

5. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the horizontal antenna array comprises a plurality of selectively coupled directors configured to cause a change in the substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern generated by the horizontal antenna array.

6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the metallic shaping plate is coupled to a plurality of selectively coupled directors, such that the metallic shaping plate and the plurality of selectively coupled directors are collectively configured to cause a change in the substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern generated by the horizontal antenna array.

7. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the metallic shaping plate is coupled to the interior of the housing via an intermediate plastic casing encapsulating the metallic shaping plate.

8. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the metallic shaping plate is coupled to the interior of the housing via a permanent adhesive.

9. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the metallic shaping plate is coupled to the interior of the housing via a reusable adhesive.

10. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the metallic shaping plate corresponds in part to the layout design of one or more of the plurality of antenna elements of the horizontal antenna array.

11. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the metallic shaping plate is surrounded by at least one metallic shaping ring, wherein the metallic shaping plate and the at least one metallic shaping ring are collectively configured to cause a change in the substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern generated by the horizontal antenna array.

12. A metallic shaping plate configured to be coupled to the interior of a housing for a horizontal antenna array, the shaping plate further configured to be substantially centered with respect to the central, vertical axis of the horizontal antenna array, wherein the placement of the shaping plate causes a change in a radiation pattern generated by the horizontal antenna array.