Wireless transceiver having a high gain antenna arrangement
A wireless transceiver for a wireless communication network has an offset Gregorian antenna arrangement comprising a primary reflector dish, an electrically conductive reflector member comprising a secondary reflector and a conductive support wall, a planar array of antenna elements arranged as a feed for transmitting radio frequency signals to the secondary reflector and/or for receiving radio frequency signals from the secondary reflector and a conductive support block configured to support the planar array of antenna elements. The conductive support wall is connected directly to the conductive support block, and the conductive support wall is configured to be substantially perpendicular to the planar array of antenna elements.
1. A wireless transceiver for a wireless communication network, the wireless transceiver having an offset Gregorian antenna arrangement comprising:
a primary reflector dish;
an electrically conductive reflector member comprising a secondary reflector and a conductive support wall;
a planar array of antenna elements arranged as a feed for transmitting radio frequency signals to the secondary reflector and/or for receiving radio frequency signals from the secondary reflector; and
a conductive support block configured to support the planar array of antenna elements,
wherein the conductive support wall is connected directly to the conductive support block, and the conductive support wall is configured to be substantially perpendicular to the planar array of antenna elements, and
wherein the conductive support wall is situated within a distance from the planar array of antenna elements of a quarter or less of one of the width or length of the planar array of antenna elements.
2. The wireless transceiver of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive reflector member is metallic and formed as one piece.
3. The wireless transceiver of claim 2 , wherein the conductive support block has a side face perpendicular to the planar array of antenna elements, the conductive support wall of the electrically conductive reflector member being held against the side face by a fixing member,
wherein a protrusion from the side face is configured to limit movement of the conductive support wall in a direction perpendicular to the planar array of antenna elements in a direction towards the primary reflector dish.
4. The wireless transceiver of claim 3 ,
wherein the electrically conductive reflector member is formed by casting and the end of the electrically conductive support wall furthest from the secondary reflector comprises a machined surface configured to abutt against a corresponding machined surface of the protrusion, whereby to locate the secondary reflector in a predetermined position with respect to the planar array of antenna elements.
5. The wireless transceiver of claim 1 comprising a non-conductive enclosure configured to enclose the electrically conductive reflector member, the planar array of antenna elements, and the conductive support block, and not to enclose the primary reflector dish.
6. The wireless transceiver of claim 5 , wherein the non-conductive enclosure has a thin-walled section directly in the line of sight between the primary reflector dish and the electrically conductive reflector member, the thin-walled section being less than half a wavelength in thickness at an operating frequency of the offset Gregorian antenna arrangement.
7. The wireless transceiver of claim 6 , wherein the focus of the offset Gregorian antenna arrangement is located between the thin walled section of the enclosure and the electrically conductive reflector member.
8. The wireless transceiver of claim 7 , wherein the focus of the offset Gregorian antenna arrangement is located closer to the thin-walled section of the enclosure than to the electrically conductive reflector member.
9. The wireless transceiver of claim 5 , wherein the non-conductive enclosure is composed of polycarbonate.
10. The wireless transceiver of claim 1 , wherein the conductive support block is formed as a first end of a feed support member, the feed support member being directly connected, at an end opposite the first end, to a support body configured to support the primary dish.
11. The wireless transceiver of claim 10 , wherein the support body comprises an aperture having an axis parallel to the direction of a radiofrequency main beam which the offset Gregorian antenna arrangement is configured to form, the aperture providing a line of sight along the axis,
wherein the aperture is configured to accept a hollow tube and to hold the hollow tube in alignment with the aperture, whereby to allow visual alignment of the offset Gregorian antenna arrangement with a radio station of the wireless communication network.
12. The wireless transceiver of claim 1 , wherein the primary reflector dish is substantially rectangular in plan view, viewed from a direction parallel to the direction of a radiofrequency main beam which the offset Gregorian antenna arrangement is configured to form.
13. The wireless transceiver of claim 1 suitable for operation at a frequency of 60 GHz.