Multi antenna for rail applications and methods
Disclosed is a 7 in 1 antenna configuration which includes 4 LTE antennas, two Wi-Fi antennas and a GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou patch antenna solution. Four standard M10 holes that allow for easy retro-fit into existing installation holes that may be present. Methods of communicating using a 7 in 1 antenna are also provided.
1. An antenna comprising:
a housing, the housing having a bottom component and a top component;
a plurality of antenna elements positioned within the housing, the plurality of antenna elements comprising a WiFi antenna, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) antenna positioned within the housing;
a global navigation satellite system patch positioned within the housing on supporting structure, the supporting structure including a depressed mounting section supporting the global satellite system patch, a first leg extending from a first side of the depressed mounting section, and a second leg extending from a second side of the depressed mounting section opposite the first side; and
one or more isolation plates positioned within the housing between two or more antenna elements.
2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the top component has a curved upper surface and a length greater than a width.
3. The antenna of claim 2 wherein the top component has a recess on each side of the top component along its length.
4. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the bottom component is substantially planar with a length greater than a width.
5. The antenna of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of anchoring members.
6. The antenna of claim 5 wherein the anchoring members are bolts.
7. The antenna of claim 1 further comprising a gasket.
8. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the antenna elements are arranged so that the WiFi antenna is adjacent a first LTE antenna and the first LTE antenna is adjacent a second LTE antenna.
9. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the global navigation satellite system patch is positioned between two LTE antennas.
10. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the global navigation satellite system patch is centrally positioned within the housing along its length.
11. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the plurality of antenna elements are arranged with a first LTE antenna located between a first WiFi antenna, and a second LTE antenna, the global navigation satellite system patch located between the second LTE antenna and a third LTE antenna, and a fourth LTE antenna located between the third LTE antenna and a second WiFi antenna.
12. A method of multi-antenna communicating comprising:
providing an antenna housing having a bottom component and a top component;
positioning a plurality of antenna elements within the housing, the plurality of antenna elements comprising a WiFi antenna, a first Long-Term Evolution LTE antenna adjacent the WiFi antenna, and a second LTE antenna adjacent the first LTE antenna;
positioning a global navigation satellite system patch within the housing supporting structure, the supporting structure including a depressed mounting section supporting the global satellite system patch, a first leg extending from a first side of the depressed mounting section, and a second leg extending from a second side of the depressed mounting section opposite the first side; and
positioning one or more isolation plates within the housing between two or more antenna elements.
13. The method of claim 12 , additionally comprising securing the antenna housing to a surface of a moveable device.
14. An antenna comprising:
a housing, the housing having a bottom component and a top component;
a plurality of antenna elements positioned within the housing, the plurality of antenna elements comprising a WiFi antenna and a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) antenna positioned within the housing;
a global navigation satellite system patch positioned within the housing on a mounting plate, the mounting plate including a central concavity supporting the global satellite system patch, a first leg extending from a first side of the concavity, and a second leg extending from a second side of the concavity opposite the first side; and
an isolation plate positioned within the housing between two of the plurality of antenna elements.
15. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein the top component has a curved upper surface and a length greater than a width.
16. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein the global navigation satellite system patch is centrally positioned along a length of the housing.
17. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein the LTE antenna is located between the WiFi antenna and a second LTE antenna.
18. The antenna of claim 14 wherein the plurality of antenna elements are arranged with the LTE antenna located between the WiFi antenna and a second LTE antenna, the global navigation satellite system patch, located between the second LTE antenna and a third LTE antenna, and a fourth LTE antenna located between the third LTE antenna and a second WiFi antenna.
19. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein a distance between the WiFi antenna and the global navigation satellite system patch is greater than a distance between the LTE antenna and the global navigation satellite system patch.
20. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein a depth of the concavity in the mounting plate is greater than a height of the global navigation satellite system patch.