Synchronized multiple-radio antenna systems and methods
AssigneeUbiquiti Networks, Inc.
InventorsRichard J. KENIUK, Gary D. SCHULZ
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Multi-radio antenna apparatuses and stations for wireless networks including multiple radios coupled to a single transmit/receive antenna, in which the antenna is highly synchronized by an external (e.g., GPS) signal. These multi-radio antenna systems may provide highly resilient links. Synchronization may allow these apparatuses to organically scale the transmission throughput while preventing data loss. The single transmit/receive antenna may have a single dish or a compound (e.g., a single pair of separate transmitting and receiving dishes) and connections for two or more radios.
Claims20
An apparatus for combining a plurality of radios so that they simultaneously send or receive from a single antenna, the apparatus comprising:
- a first radio and a second radio;
- a multiplexer configured to connect to the first and second radios, the multiplexer comprising:
- a passive power divider/combiner configured to couple to the first and second radios and to passively combine radio frequency (RF) signals from the first and second radios, the passive power divider/combiner configured to output the combined RF signals to the single antenna, and to divide RF signals from the single antenna between the first and second radios;
- and
- a multiplexer circuitry in communication with each of the first and second radios, the multiplexer circuitry configured to establish a duty cycle for the first and second radios and to synchronize the first and second radios via a master synchronization signal.
A method of synchronizing a plurality of radios so that they simultaneously send or receive from a single antenna, the method comprising:
- passively combining radio frequency (RF) signals from a first radio and a second radio;
- outputting the combined RF signals to the single antenna to divide RF signals from the single antenna between the first and second radios;
- synchronizing a duty cycle of the first and second radios via a master synchronization signal;
- and
- simultaneously transmitting the RF signals from each of the first and second radios using the single antenna or simultaneously receiving RF signals in the each of the first and second radios using the single antenna.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.