Methods and apparatus for implementing an access point supporting multiple communications protocols
Access points which can be mounted in a variety of locations or orientations and can support multiple communications protocols are described. The access point includes a main housing, e.g., main body, and a front housing connected together by a hinge. A Wi-Fi antenna is included in the front housing in some embodiments. The access point can be used in an open or closed position. When mounted in a vertical position the front housing can be lowered into a horizontal position facilitating preferred antenna orientation. A first set of cooling fins serves to keep the internal components of the access point off a wall when the access point is wall mounted facilitating air flow. Additional fins act as a spacer between the main housing and the front housing when the access point is used in a closed position facilitating air flow around both sides of the main housing.
1. An access point comprising:
a main housing including cooling fins;
a first radio mounted in the main housing;
a first cover configured to seal the main housing, the first cover including cooling fins; and
a front housing, the front housing movable with respect to the main housing; and
a first antenna element mounted in the front housing, the first antenna element operably coupled to the first radio.
2. The access point of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge, a first side of the hinge secured to the front housing and a second side of the hinge secured to the main housing or said first cover.
3. The access point of claim 1 , wherein said access point includes:
a central processing unit (CPU);
a memory coupled to the CPU; and
an ethernet port operably coupled to the CPU.
4. The access point of claim 3 , further comprising:
at least one LED included in the main housing, said at least one LED being visible from an outside of said main housing and indicating a status condition of said access point.
5. The access point of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tilt or position sensor mounted in said front housing, wherein the access point is configured to communicate a position of said front housing to a second device, the position based on input from the tilt or position sensor.
6. The access point of claim 1 , further comprising a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) antenna matrix, wherein the first antenna element is included in the BLE antenna matrix, and wherein the first radio is a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) radio.
7. The access point of claim 6 , further comprising:
a Wi-Fi antenna mounted in said front housing; and
a Wi-Fi radio mounted in said main housing, the Wi-Fi radio operably connected to the Wi-Fi antenna.
8. The access point of claim 7 , further comprising:
a water tight flexible tube coupling an interior of the main housing to an interior of the front housing.
9. The access point of claim 8 , further comprising a second hinge, a first side of the second hinge secured to the main housing or said first cover and a second side of the second hinge secured to the front housing.
10. The access point of claim 9 , further comprising
a bracket, said bracket securing the front housing at a position which is at most 90 degrees with respect to the main housing when the main housing is mounted vertically.
11. The access point of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second radio, the second radio being a WiFi radio;
a second antenna element positioned inside said front housing, said second antenna element being a WiFi antenna element and being operably coupled to said second radio,
wherein the first antenna element is part of a BLE antenna array, the BLE antenna array operably coupled to the first radio.
12. The access point of claim 3 , wherein said main housing includes both a Bluetooth radio and a WiFi radio.
13. The access point of claim 3 , further comprising:
an external antenna connector.
14. The access point of claim 13 , wherein said access point is mounted on a pole or wall, with said front housing positioned in a horizontal position relative to ground or a floor beneath the access point.
15. The access point of claim 14 , wherein said main housing is positioned in a vertical position while said front housing is positioned in a horizontal position.
16. The access point of claim 15 , further comprising:
a position sensor for detecting the horizontal position of said front housing.
17. The access point of claim 16 further comprising:
a pressure vent for venting pressure from the main housing.
18. The access point of claim 17 , further comprising:
a flexible waterproof tube through which wires pass from the main housing to the front housing.