Method and Apparatus for Overlapping MIMO Physical Sectors
MIMO systems communicate with wireless devices. MIMO systems include directional antennas that are oriented so that the physical sectors of the antennas overlap to form areas of overlap. Some physical sectors overlap substantially while others overlap partially. The areas of overlap are oriented in unique directions. Radios are selectively coupled to the portion of the antennas to communicate with the wireless devices. The physical sectors of the antennas that are selectively coupled to the radios overlap. The radios use the antennas to communicate with the wireless devices. The antennas operate as a MIMO antenna.
1 . A MIMO system for communicating with a provided wireless device, the MIMO system comprising:
at least three directional antennas; and
at least two radios; wherein:
each antenna is oriented such that a physical sector of each antenna substantially overlaps a physical sector of at least one other antenna thereby forming respective areas of overlap;
a center of each area of overlap is oriented in a unique direction with respect to the MIMO system;
each radio selectively couples to one respective antenna;
the physical sectors of the antennas coupled to the radios substantially overlap;
the at least two radios communicate with the wireless device using the respective antennas coupled to each radio;
the antennas coupled to the radios operate as a MIMO antenna.
2 . The MIMO system of claim 1 wherein the at least three antennas are collocated such that a physical sector of each antenna extends outwardly from the MIMO system.
3 . The MIMO system of claim 1 wherein the antennas coupled to the at least two radios communicate using a same channel.
4 . The MIMO system of claim 1 wherein:
the antennas coupled to the at least two radios communicate using a same channel; and
each antenna has a different polarization.
5 . A MIMO system for communicating with a provided wireless device, the MIMO system comprising:
at least four directional antennas; and
a quantity of radios comprising at least three radios; wherein:
each antenna is oriented such that a physical sector of each antenna substantially overlaps a physical sector of a quantity of other antennas equal to at least the quantity of radios thereby forming respective areas of overlap;
a center of each area of overlap is oriented in a unique direction with respect to the MIMO system;
each radio selectively couples to one respective antenna;
the physical sectors of the antennas coupled to the quantity of radios substantially overlap;
the quantity of radios communicate with the wireless device using the respective antennas coupled to each radio; and
the antennas coupled to the radios operate as a MIMO antenna.
6 . The MIMO system of claim 5 wherein the at least three antennas are collocated such that a physical sector of each antenna extends outwardly from the MIMO system.
7 . The MIMO system of claim 5 wherein the antennas coupled to the quantity of radios communicate using a same channel.
8 . The MIMO system of claim 5 wherein:
the antennas coupled to the quantity of radios communicate using a same channel; and
each antenna has a different polarization.