ANTENNA FEEDING MECHANISM
An access point is provided with an electronics enclosure which is surrounded by antenna panels. An antenna feeding mechanism operates using spatial multiplexing multiple input multiple output. Three radio frequency chains are used in a pattern that feeds a total of eight antenna elements. Multiple streams are supported by using two polarizations. Additionally a maximal ratio combiner is used to combine signals from different antennas. The hardware within the access point supports three radio frequency chains which are mapped to four antenna panels, each panel containing two elements; one for vertical and one for horizontal polarization.
1 . An access point comprising:
an electronics enclosure; and
a plurality of antenna elements surrounding the electronics enclosure,
wherein the access point operates using a multiple input multiple output antenna feeding mechanism to feed the plurality of antenna elements.
2 . The access point of claim 1 , wherein the multiple input multiple output antenna feeding mechanism comprises three radio frequency chains used in a pattern to feed the plurality of antenna elements.
3 . The access point of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprise four antenna panels each containing two antenna elements, wherein the two antenna elements comprise a vertical polarization antenna element and a horizontal polarization antenna element.
4 . The access point of claim 3 , further comprising:
a maximal ratio combiner for combining signals from the plurality of antenna elements.
5 . The access point of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprise a plurality of integrated antenna panels located at ninety degrees from each other.
6 . The access point of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprises four antenna panels arranged such that each antenna panel is ninety degrees from an adjacent antennal panel, each of the antenna panels comprised of a vertical polarization element and a horizontal polarization element.
7 . The access point of claim 6 , further comprising a hardware system supporting three radio frequency chains per frequency band which are mapped to the four antenna panels.
8 . The access point of claim 7 , wherein the three radio frequency chains comprise a first radio frequency signal, a second radio frequency signal, and a third radio frequency signal, and wherein the four antenna panels comprise a first antenna panel, a second antenna panel, a third antenna panel, and a fourth antenna panel; and wherein the access point is configured such that:
a vertical polarization element of the first antenna panel and a vertical polarization element of the third antenna panel radiate the first frequency signal, wherein the first antenna panel and third antenna panel are located one hundred and eighty degrees apart;
a vertical polarization element of the fourth antenna panel radiates the second radio frequency signal, wherein the fourth antenna panel is located adjacent to and ninety degrees from the first antenna panel and the third antenna panel;
a vertical polarization element of the second antenna panel radiates the third radio frequency signal, wherein the second antenna panel is located adjacent to and ninety degrees from the first antenna panel and the third antenna panel and one hundred eighty degrees from the fourth antenna panel;
a horizontal polarization element of the fourth antenna panel and a horizontal polarization element of the second antenna panel radiate the first radio frequency signal; and
a horizontal polarization element of the third antenna panel radiates the third radio frequency signal.
9 . The access point of claim 8 , wherein the first antenna panel radiates in a north direction, the second antenna panel radiates in an east direction, the third antenna panel radiates in south direction, and the fourth antenna panel radiates in a west direction.