Antenna array with selectable horizontal, vertical or circular polarization

A switching network in communication with an antenna array, wherein each antenna element in the antenna array comprises a horizontal polarized signal and a vertical polarized signal, comprising:

• an upper antenna selection switch and a lower antenna selection switch, each having a multiplexed signal and a plurality of demultiplexed signals, wherein the horizontal polarized signal and the vertical polarized signal of each antenna element is in communication with a demultiplexed signal on one of the upper and the lower antenna selection switches;
• and
• wherein the vertical polarized signal and the horizontal polarized signal of at least one antenna element are in communication with demultiplexed signals on different antenna selection switches, wherein control signals, referred to as ANTENNA SELECT, are used to select one of the demultiplexed signals to be in communication with the multiplexed signal;
• an upper polarization switch having a multiplexed signal in communication with the multiplexed signal from the upper antenna selection switch, and having a first and a second demultiplexed signal, wherein a control signal, referred to as CIRCULAR, is used to select one of the demultiplexed signals to be in communication with the multiplexed signal;
• a lower polarization switch having a multiplexed signal in communication with the multiplexed signal from the lower antenna selection switch, and having a first and a second demultiplexed signal, wherein a control signal, referred to as CIRCULAR, is used to select one of the demultiplexed signals to be in communication with the multiplexed signal;
• a 90° hybrid in communication with the second demultiplexed signal from the upper polarization switch and the second demultiplexed signal from the lower polarization switch;
• a bank s switch having a multiplexed signal, a first demultiplexed signal in communication with the first demultiplexed signal from the upper polarization switch, and a second demultiplexed signal in communication with the first demultiplexed signal from the lower polarization switch, wherein a control signal, referred to as UPPER/LOWER, is used to select one of the demultiplexed signals to be in communication with the multiplexed signal;
• and
• a main polarization switch having a multiplexed signal, a first demultiplexed signal in communication with the multiplexed signal from the bank selection switch and a second demultiplexed signal in communication with the 90° hybrid, wherein a control signal, referred to as CIRCULAR, is used to select one of the demultiplexed signals to be in communication with the multiplexed signal.

A method of calculating an angle of arrival comprising:

• receiving, at a wireless network device, a signal comprising a constant tone extension, having a guard period, a reference period, and a plurality of switching slots and sample slots, wherein the wireless network device comprises an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements and a switching network to select among signals from the antenna array;
• configuring the switching network so as to receive a circular polarized signal from one of the plurality of antenna elements;
• receiving the circular polarized signal during at least a portion of the guard period and/or reference period;
• configuring the switching network so as to receive a horizontal polarized signal from a first of the plurality of antenna elements during a switching slot;
• receiving the horizontal polarized signal from the first of the plurality of antenna elements during sample slot;
• configuring the switching network so as to receive a vertical polarized signal from the first of the plurality of antenna elements during a switching slot;
• receiving the vertical polarized signal from the first of the plurality of antenna elements during a sample slot;
• repeating the configuring and receiving so as to receive vertical polarized signals and horizontal polarized signals from all of the antenna elements in the antenna array;
• using information from the horizontal polarized signals and the vertical polarized signals to calculate an angle of arrival.