Tuned directional antennas
A technique for improving radio coverage involves using interdependently tuned directional antennas. An example according to the technique is a substrate including two antennas, a transceiver, and a connector. Another example system according to the technique is a wireless access point (AP) including a processor, memory, a communication port, and a PCB comprising a plurality of directional antennas and a radio. An example method according to the technique involves determining a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) and interdependently tuning a first and second directional antenna to reach an expected radiation pattern.
1. An access point (AP) comprising:
a processor, memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory stores software executable by the processor;
a communication interface coupled to the processor;
a printed circuit board (PCB) including:
a radio coupled to the processor;
a first plurality of directional antennas, each associated with a first radio frequency, coupled to the radio;
wherein, in operation, a transmission is received by the first plurality of antennas, the transmission is detected by the radio, and data is sent from the communication interface to a network,
wherein a first directional antenna of the first plurality of antennas and a second directional antenna of the first plurality of directional antennas are interdependently tuned for a desired radiation pattern.
2. An AP as recite in claim 1 wherein the PCB includes a second plurality of directional antennas each associated with a second radio frequency.
3. An AP as recited in claim 1 , wherein the AP has an unobtrusive form factor.
4. An AP as recited in claim 1 , wherein the AP is configured to be a ceiling mounted AP with limited board space.
5. An AP as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of directional antennas includes a first antenna with a broad radiation pattern and a second antenna with a narrow radiation pattern.
6. An AP as recited in claim 1 , wherein the AP is operable as an untethered wireless connection to a network.
7. A substrate comprising:
a transceiver;
a first directional antenna, coupled to the transceiver, associated with an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) frequency;
a second directional antenna associated with the EMR frequency coupled to the transceiver, wherein the first directional antenna and the second directional antenna have overlapping antenna patterns,
wherein the first directional antenna and the second directional antenna are tuned interdependently for a desired radiation pattern.
8. A substrate as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first directional antenna has a first coverage pattern, and the second directional antenna has a second coverage pattern, and wherein the combined coverage pattern of the first coverage pattern and the second coverage pattern provides excellent horizontal plane directivity.
9. A substrate as recited in claim 7 further comprising:
a third directional antenna associated with a second EMR frequency coupled to the transceiver;
a fourth directional antenna associated with the second EMR frequency coupled to the transceiver.
10. A substrate as recited in claim 7 further comprising, a plurality of directional antenna arrays each associated with a different EMR frequency, wherein the first directional antenna and the second directional antenna are part of one of the plurality of directional antenna arrays.
11. A substrate as recited in claim 7 , further comprising a connector that includes a network interface.
12. An access point (AP) comprising:
a processor, memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory stores software executable by the processor;
a communication interface coupled to the processor;
a printed circuit board (PCB) including:
a radio coupled to the processor;
a first plurality of directional antennas, each associated with a first radio frequency, coupled to the radio;
wherein, in operation, a transmission is received by the first plurality of antennas, the transmission is detected by the radio, and data is sent from the communication interface to a network,
wherein a first directional antenna of the first plurality of antennas and a second directional antenna of the first plurality of directional antennas are interdependently tuned for a generally optimal radiation pattern.
13. An AP as recite in claim 12 wherein the PCB includes a second plurality of directional antennas each associated with a second radio frequency.
14. An AP as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of directional antennas includes a first antenna with a broad radiation pattern and a second antenna with a narrow radiation pattern.