Radio system for high-speed wireless communication
Indoor/outdoor broadband wireless combined radio/antennas configured to include an integrated adjustable mount allowing mounting to a pole or stand and adjustment of the angle of the device (e.g., the altitude) by a lockable ball joint. The device may include a compact array antenna having a high gain configured to operate in, for example, the 5.15 to 5.85 GHz band and/or the 2.40-2.48 GHz band. The antenna emitters may be arranged in a separate plane from a plane containing the antenna feed connecting the emitting elements and also from a ground plane. The antenna array may be contained within a protective weatherproof housing along with the radio control circuitry. The antenna may be manufactured by a simple stamping/forming process. The apparatuses may be configured for low impedance mismatch and may have a high gain relative to a very small and compact overall shape.
1. A radio and antenna device for providing wireless broadband access, the device comprising:
a housing comprising a rear region having an integrated bracket mount, wherein the bracket mount comprises a ball socket;
wherein the housing encloses an array antenna having:
a ground plate in a first plane,
a plurality of antenna radiating elements above the first plane wherein each antenna radiating element has a radiating surface extending in a plane above the first plane, wherein the antenna radiating elements may extend in the same plane or in different planes,
an antenna feed in a third plane between the first plane and the radiating surfaces, and
a plurality of feed lines extending from the third plane, wherein each feed line connects an antenna radiating element to the antenna feed, wherein the plurality of antenna feed lines comprises a vertical polarization feed connected to a first radio connection point, and a horizontal polarization feed connected to a second radio connection point;
further wherein the plurality of antenna radiating elements, antenna feed, and plurality of feed lines are all formed of a stamped single sheet of metal having a continuous top surface; and
a bracket comprising a ball joint, the bracket configured support the housing, wherein the bracket and bracket mount cooperate to provide a plurality of selectable tilt positions of the housing relative to the bracket.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising optical indicators within the housing that are visible through a wall of the housing.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is water resistant.
4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a bubble level integrated onto the housing.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the bracket mount comprises a deformable locking projection.
6. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the antenna feed comprises a plurality of antenna feed regions in the third plane.
7. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of feed lines comprises a plurality of slant feed lines, wherein each slant feed line connects one side of an antenna radiating element to the antenna feed.
8. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the radiating surfaces of each antenna radiating element of the plurality of antenna radiating elements extend in a second plane above the first plane.
9. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first plane and the second plane are separated by between about 2 and about 20 mm.
10. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first plane is separated from the third plane by between about 1 and about 10 mm, and wherein the second plane is separate from the third plane by between about 1 and about 10 mm.
11. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of feed line are selected from the group consisting of: a plurality of slant feed lines wherein each slant feed line connects to the edge of one antenna radiating element from the plurality of antenna radiating elements to the antenna feed, and a plurality of cylindrical feed lines wherein each cylindrical feed line connects one antenna radiating element from the plurality of antenna radiating elements to the antenna feed at a position that is off-center relative to the radiating surface of the antenna radiating element.
12. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antenna radiating elements, antenna feed, and plurality of feed lines are all formed of a single sheet of metal tin plated steel, brass, or copper.
13. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antenna radiating elements consists of four antenna radiating elements.
14. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antenna radiating elements consists of nine antenna radiating elements.
15. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the antenna gain is between about 15 and about 20 dB.
16. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the bandwidth of the antenna is between about 5.15 to 5.85 GHz.
17. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the bandwidth of the antenna is between about 2.40 to 2.48 GHz.
18. The array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the planes in which the ground plate, plurality of antenna radiating elements and antenna feed extend are separated from each other by air.