Multi radio wireless LAN networks
Systems and methods for improving wireless access point communications are provided. Some embodiments contemplate filtering operations such that two or more radios can be used in the 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz band without interfering with each other. Some embodiments employ discrete Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA) and Power Amplifiers (PA) as well as frontend modules. In some examples, filtering may be primarily used on the receiving side to filter out other signals in 5 GHz before they are amplified by an external LNA or LNAs, e.g., as integrated in a WLAN chipset. Filtering may also be performed on the transmit side in some embodiments.
1. A communications system comprising:
at least one processor;
a first WLAN module in electrical communication with the at least one processor, the first WLAN module configured for communication on at least two non-overlapping subdivisions within a region of the 5 GHz communication band, each of the at least two non-overlapping subdivisions encompassing one or more center frequencies and separated by a cut off region;
a 5 GHz power amplifier in electrical communication with the first WLAN module;
a 5 GHz band low noise amplifier in electrical communication with the first WLAN module; and
at least one filtering module in communication with the 5 GHz band low noise amplifier, wherein the at least one filtering module is in electrical communication with an output configured to communicate with at least one antenna, wherein the at least one filtering module is configured to exclude signals received via the at least one antenna that are at frequencies in the cut off region separating the at least two subdivisions of the 5 GHz communication band, before the signals are amplified by the 5 GHz band low noise amplifier.
2. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the communications system is an access point configured to perform Layer 2 aggregation.
3. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the at least two subdivisions comprise a first subdivision including a region between 5170 MHz and 5330 MHz and a second subdivision including a region between 5490 MHz and 5835 MHz.
4. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filtering module comprises a bandpass filter (BPF).
5. The communications system of claim 4 , wherein the BPF provides a pass band in the first and second subdivisions of the 5 GHz band and is configured to reject, at least in part, a band above 5400 MHz.
6. The communications system of claim 4 , wherein the BPF is in electrical communication with an output to the at least one antenna via a first RF switch and a diplexer.
7. The communications system of claim 6 , wherein the 5 GHz power amplifier is in electrical communication with the first RF switch, but not the BPF.
8. The communications system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a second WLAN module in electrical communication with the at least one processor, the second WLAN module configured for communication on at least two subdivisions within a region of the 2.4 GHz communication band;
a 2.4 GHz power amplifier in electrical communication with the second WLAN module; and
a 2.4 GHz band low noise amplifier in electrical communication with the second WLAN module,
wherein the 2.4 GHz power amplifier and 2.4 GHz band low noise amplifier are in electrical communication with an output to at least one antenna via a second RF switch and the diplexer.
9. The communications system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a second WLAN module configured for communication on at least two subdivisions within a region of the 2.4 GHz communication band;
a 2.4 GHz power amplifier in electrical communication with the second WLAN module; and
a 2.4 GHz band low noise amplifier in electrical communication with the second WLAN module.
10. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the communications system comprises one of a USB or Firewire peripheral.