Patent Publication Number: US-10320052-B2

Title: Wireless device with flexible neck

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to wireless communications, and in particular relates to a wireless device with a flexible neck. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Currently, wireless access methods are based on two popular standards: a wide area network (WAN) standard referred to as The Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) system; and a local area network (LAN) standard called Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is generally used indoors as a short-range wireless extension of wired broadband systems, whereas the 4G LTE systems provide wide area long-range connectivity both outdoors and indoors using dedicated infrastructure such as cell towers and backhaul to connect to the Internet. 
     As more people connect to the Internet, increasingly chat with friends and family, watch and upload videos, listen to streamed music, and indulge in virtual or augmented reality, data traffic continues to grow exponentially. In order to address the continuously growing wireless capacity challenge, the next generation of LAN and WAN systems are relying on higher frequencies referred to as millimeter waves in addition to currently used frequency bands below 7 GHz. The next generation of wireless WAN standard referred to as 5G New Radio (NR) is under development in the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The 3GPP NR standard supports both sub-7 GHz frequencies as well as millimeter wave bands above 24 GHz. In 3GPP standard, frequency range 1 (FR1) covers frequencies in the 0.4 GHz-6 GHz range. Frequency range 2 (FR2) covers frequencies in the 24.25 GHz-52.6 GHz range. Table 1 provides examples of millimeter wave bands including FR2 bands that may be used for wireless high data-rate communications. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Examples of millimeter wave bands 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Bands [GHz] 
                 Frequency [GHz] 
                 Bandwidth [GHz] 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 26 GHz Band 
                 24.25-27.5  
                 3.250 
               
               
                   
                 LMDS Band 
                  27.5-28.35 
                 0.850 
               
               
                   
                   
                  29.1-29.25 
                 0.150 
               
               
                   
                   
                     31-31.3 
                 0.300 
               
               
                   
                 32 GHz Band 
                 31.8-33.4 
                 1.600 
               
               
                   
                 39 GHz Band 
                 38.6-40     
                 1.400 
               
               
                   
                 37/42 GHz Bands      
                 37.0-38.6 
                 1.600 
               
               
                   
                   
                 42.0-42.5 
                 0.500 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 60 
                 GHz 
                 57-64 
                 7.000 
               
               
                   
                   
                 64-71 
                 7.000 
               
               
                 70/80 
                 GHz 
                 71-76 
                 5.000 
               
               
                   
                   
                 81-86 
                 5.000 
               
               
                 90 
                 GHz 
                 92-94 
                 2.900 
               
               
                   
                   
                 94.1-95.0 
               
               
                 95 
                 GHz 
                  95-100 
                 5.000 
               
               
                 105 
                 GHz 
                 102-105 
                 7.500 
               
               
                   
                   
                     105-109.5 
               
               
                 112 
                 GHz 
                  111.8-114.25 
                 2.450 
               
               
                 122 
                 GHz 
                 122.25-123   
                 0.750 
               
               
                 130 
                 GHz 
                 130-134 
                 4.000 
               
               
                 140 
                 GHz 
                     141-148.5 
                 7.500 
               
               
                 150/160 
                 GHz 
                 151.5-155.5 
                 12.50 
               
               
                   
                   
                 155.5-158.5 
               
               
                   
                   
                 158.5-164     
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 2 lists examples of FR1 bands in the 3GPP standard. We refer to the FR1 bands in the 3GPP standard, unlicensed 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, 5.925-6.425 GHz and 6.425-7.125 GHz bands and any other spectrum band below 7 GHz as sub-7 GHz spectrum. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Examples of FR1 bands in 3GPP 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 5G-RAN 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Frequency 
                 Uplink Frequency 
                 Downlink Frequency 
                 Duplex 
               
               
                 Band 
                 band 
                 band 
                 Mode 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 n1 
                 1920 MHz-1980 MHz 
                 2110 MHz-2170 MHz 
                 FDD 
               
               
                 n3 
                 1710 MHz-1785 MHz 
                 1805 MHz-1880 MHz 
                 FDD 
               
               
                 n7 
                 2500 MHz-2570 MHz 
                 2620 MHz-2690 MHz 
                 FDD 
               
               
                 n8 
                 880 MHz-915 MHz 
                 925 MHz-960 MHz 
                 FDD 
               
               
                 n20 
                 832 MHz-862 MHz 
                 791 MHz-821 MHz 
                 FDD 
               
               
                 n28 
                 703 MHz-748 MHz 
                 758 MHz-803 MHz 
                 FDD 
               
               
                 n41 
                 2496 MHz-2690 MHz 
                 2496 MHz-2690 MHz 
                 TDD 
               
               
                 n66 
                 1710 MHz-1780 MHz 
                 2110 MHz-2200 MHz 
                 FDD 
               
               
                 n70 
                 1695 MHz-1710 MHz 
                 1995 MHz-2020 MHz 
                 FDD 
               
               
                 n71 
                 663 MHz-698 MHz 
                 617 MHz-652 MHz 
                 FDD 
               
               
                 n77 
                 3300 MHz-4200 MHz 
                 N/A 
                 TDD 
               
               
                 n78 
                 3300 MHz-3800 MHz 
                 N/A 
                 TDD 
               
               
                 n79 
                 4400 MHz-5000 MHz 
                 N/A 
                 TDD 
               
               
                 n80 
                 1710 MHz-1785 MHz 
                 N/A 
                 SUL 
               
               
                 n81 
                 880 MHz-915 MHz 
                 N/A 
                 SUL 
               
               
                 n82 
                 832 MHz-862 MHz 
                 N/A 
                 SUL 
               
               
                 n83 
                 703 MHz-748 MHz 
                 N/A 
                 SUL 
               
               
                 n84 
                 1920 MHz-1980 MHz 
                 N/A 
                 SUL 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In addition to serving the mobile devices, the next generation of wireless WAN systems using millimeter wave and sub-7 GHz spectrum is expected to provide high-speed (Gigabits per second) links to fixed wireless broadband routers installed in homes and commercial buildings. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to disclosed embodiments, a broadband wireless device comprises a broadband router comprising first and second transceivers, a base and a flexible neck having an elongated body and a first end connected to the broadband router and a second end connected to the base. The flexible neck bends and twists with ease. The flexible neck supports and retains the broadband router in a selected position in relation to the base. The flexible neck provides a pathway for electrically connecting the broadband router to the base to supply electrical power to the broadband router. 
     According to some disclosed embodiments, the flexible neck provides a pathway for a cable to transfer data signals between the base and the broadband router. In some embodiments, the flexible elongated neck may provide a pathway for an ethernet cable to supply electrical power to the broadband router and to transfer data signals between the broadband router and the base. 
     According to some disclosed embodiments, the first transceiver is configured to receive millimeter wave band downlink signals from a radio base station and to transmit sub-7 GHz band uplink signals to the radio base station. 
     According to some disclosed embodiments, the first transceiver is configured to receive millimeter wave band downlink signals from the radio base station and to transmit millimeter wave band uplink signals to the radio base station. 
     According to some disclosed embodiments, the second transceiver is configured to receive sub-7 GHz band signals from a communication device and to transmit sub-7 GHz band signals to the communication device. 
     According to some disclosed embodiments, the flexible neck has a plurality of parallel grooves formed laterally about the outer surface of the elongated body to facilitate bending and twisting of the flexible neck and to retain the broadband router in a selected positional relationship between the base and the broadband router. The flexible neck may have a dampener for dampening movement of the flexible neck. The dampener may be a flexible conduit extending substantially uninterrupted between the first end and the second end of the elongated neck. 
     According to some disclosed embodiments, a first swivel is attached to the first end of the flexible neck and a second swivel attached to the second end of flexible to facilitate rotational movement of the outwardly-facing member about the flexible elongated neck. 
     According to some disclosed embodiment, the base comprises terminals adapted for connection to an electrical power outlet. The base may comprise an ethernet port adapted for connection to an ethernet. The base may comprise a USB port adapted to receive a USB device. 
     The flexible neck is bent and adjusted to position the broadband router in proximity to a window and oriented to point to the base station. 
     According to disclosed embodiments, a broadband wireless device comprises a broadband router comprising a first transceiver configured to receive millimeter wave band downlink signals from a radio base station and to transmit sub-7 GHz band uplink signals to the radio base station and a second transceiver configured to receive sub-7 GHz band signals from a communication device and to transmit sub-7 GHz band signals to the communication device. The wireless device comprises a base and a flexibile neck having an elongated body and a first end connected to the broadband router and a second end connected to the base. The flexible neck bends and twists with ease. The flexible neck supports and retains the broadband router in a selected position in relation to the base. The flexible neck provides a pathway for electrically connecting the broadband router to the base to supply electrical power to the broadband router. The flexible neck also provides a pathway for a conductor to transfer data signals between the base and the broadband router. 
     According to disclosed embodiments, a broadband wireless device comprises a broadband router comprising a first transceiver configured to receive millimeter wave band downlink signals from a radio base station and to transmit millimeter wave band uplink signals to the radio base station and a second transceiver configured to receive sub-7 GHz band signals from a communication device and to transmit sub-7 GHz band signals to the communication device. The wireless device comprises a base and a flexible neck having an elongated body and a first end connected to the broadband router and a second end connected to the base. The flexible neck bends and twists with ease. The flexible neck supports and retains the broadband router in a selected position in relation to the base. The flexible neck provides a pathway for electrically connecting the broadband router to the base to supply electrical power to the broadband router. The flexible neck may provide a pathway for a conductor to transfer data signals between the base and the broadband router. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary wireless network in accordance with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates functions implemented by a wireless broadband router. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a broadband wireless device according to disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a broadband router being supported by a flexible neck  312 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a flexible neck according to some disclosed embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a wireless network  100  in accordance with disclosed embodiments. The network  100  includes radio base stations  104 ,  108  and  112  (also referred to as gNodeBs) that wirelessly communicate with wireless broadband routers (WBR)  120 ,  124 ,  128  and  132  installed inside a residential or a commercial building  140 . 
     According to disclosed embodiments, each radio base station implements a plurality of sectors. For example, the base stations  104 ,  108  and  112  each comprise three sectors, B 0 , B 1  and B 2 . The radio base stations  104 ,  108  and  112  are connected to a network  144  via a switch or router  148 . The network  144  may be connected to the Internet  150 . The radio base stations also communicate control messages with a controller  154 . The wireless broadband routers  120 ,  124 ,  128 , and  132  provide high-speed Internet access to communication devices inside the residential or commercial building  140 . The communication devices may, for example, be smartphones, wearable devices, laptop computers, desktop computers, augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) devices or any other communication devices. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , when the wireless broadband router (WBR) is facing North, it receives signals from sector B 2  of the radio base stations  104  as well as from sector B 2  of the radio base station  108 . In both these wireless links, there is no direct path and the received signals follow a reflected non-line-of-sight (NLOS) path. When the wireless broadband router is facing East, it receives a reflected NLOS signal from sector B 0  of radio base stations  112  and a direct signal from sector B 1  of radio base station  108 . When the wireless broadband router is facing South, it receives a direct signal from sector B 2  of radio base station  112 . When the wireless broadband router (WBR) is facing West, it receives a direct signal from sector B 0  of radio base station  104  and a reflected NLOS signal from sector B 1  of radio base station  112 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the controller  154  exchanges control messages with the radio base stations  104 ,  108  and  112 . The Controller  154  also exchanges control messages with the wireless broadband routers  120 ,  124 .  128  and  132  via one or more of the radio base stations. These control messages may include received signal strengths reports for the base stations/sectors/beams that the wireless broadband routers can measure, as well as commands for the wireless broadband routers to perform certain tasks. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the functions implemented by the wireless broadband router  120  according to some disclosed embodiments. The wireless broadband router  120  comprises a plurality of antenna arrays  204 . According to some disclosed embodiments, the antenna arrays  204  comprise a first antenna array configured to receive millimeter wave band downlink signals from a base station and a second antenna array configured to transmit millimeter wave band uplink signals to the base station. In other embodiments, a single antenna array may be configured to both receive and transmit millimeter wave band uplink and downlink signals. In yet other embodiments, the second antenna array may be configured to transmit sub-7 GHz uplink signals to the base station, in which case the wireless broadband router  120  is configured to transmit and receive widely spaced uplink and downlink signals, i.e., receive millimeter wave band downlink signals and transmit sub-7 GHz band uplink signals. The antenna arrays  204  comprise a third antenna array to transmit sub-7 GHz signals to a communication device and a fourth antenna array to receive sub-7 GHz signals from the communication device. 
     The wireless broadband router  120  comprises transceivers  208  that transmit data and control signals to the radio base station (e.g.,  104 ,  108 , or  112 ) and receives data and control signals transmitted by the radio base station. The transceivers  208  may comprise a first transceiver configured to receive millimeter wave band downlink signals from the base station and transmit uplink signals to the base station. The uplink signals may be millimeter wave band uplink signals or sub-7 GHz band uplink signals. The transceivers  208  may comprise a second transceiver configured to transmit sub-7 GHz band signals to the communication device and configured to receive sub-7 GHz band signals from the communication device. 
     The wireless broadband router  120  comprises a receiver  212  for satellite based positioning such as a GPS receiver and antenna that are used to determine the location of the wireless broadband router. The location information can be further refined by using other location methods such as cellular and Wi-Fi based location services. The wireless broadband router may also utilize various sensors such as a gyroscope, an accelerometer and a compass. The signals from these sensors are used to determine the orientation of the broadband router and may serve to associate the performance of the wireless link with a specific orientation. This will allow the system to provide users with indications regarding possible movements in the orientation, which may be the cause for performance degradation. The capability to read orientation may also serve to guide users towards a direction in which the multi-gNodeB base station system can provide the highest reliability. Such orientation may be chosen such that multiple gNodeB base station may offer acceptable coverage, rather than being chosen such that one particular gNodeB base station is received at a maximal signal level. The other functions implemented by the wireless broadband router  120  include baseband processing, digital signal processing, communications protocol processing, memory, networking and routing functions. The wireless broadband router  120  may also include additional functionalities such as a display and a camera. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a broadband wireless device  300  according to disclosed embodiments. The broadband wireless device  300  may be installed inside a residential building or a commercial building. In other embodiments, the wireless device  300  may be installed outdoors. The wireless device  300  comprises a broadband router  304  which includes first and second transceivers (not shown in  FIG. 3 ). A flexible neck  312  connects the broadband router  304  to a base  308 . The base  308  includes terminals configured to be removably-attached or plugged into a conventional electrical outlet (e.g., wall electrical outlet). The base  308  may be constructed from any conventional material, such as metal or plastic. 
     The flexible neck  312  has an elongated body  316  that bends and twists with ease. The flexible neck  312  has a first end  320  connected to the broadband router  304  and a second end  324  connected to the base  308 . The means of attachment of the flexible neck  312  to the base  308  and to the broadband router  308  may be any conventional means, such as, for example, bolt, nut and bolt combination, screw, swivel means. The flexible neck  312  supports and retains the broadband router  304  in a selected position in relation to the base  308 . The flexible neck  312  may be made from any conventional material, such as, for example, coiled plastic, coiled metal or steel mesh. 
     According to some disclosed embodiments, the flexible neck  312  has a plurality of parallel grooves formed laterally about the outer surface of the elongated body  316  to facilitate bending and twisting of the flexible neck  312 . When the flexible neck  312  is bent or twisted to change the position of the broadband router  304 , the flexible neck  312  retains the broadband router  304  in a selected positional relationship relative to the base  308 . 
     According to some disclosed embodiments, the flexible neck has a dampener for dampening movement of the flexible neck. In some embodiments, the dampener is a flexible conduit extending substantially uninterrupted between the first end  320  and the second end  324  of the elongated neck  316 . 
     According to some disclosed embodiments, the flexible neck  312  comprises a first swivel (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) attached to the first end  320  and a second swivel (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) attached to the second end  324  to facilitate rotational movement of the broadband router  304  about the flexible neck. Thus, by bending the flexible neck  312  and rotating the broadband router  304 , the router  304  can be moved to a desired position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the wireless device  300  is installed by plugging the base  308  into an electrical outlet of an interior wall  330  of a residential or a commercial building. The flexible neck  312  is bent and adjusted and the broadband router  304  is rotated to position in close proximity to a window  334 . For optimal performance, the broadband router  304  is positioned in close proximity to the window  334  and oriented to point towards the radio base station  104 . Since millimeter wave band signals generally degrade during outdoor to indoor and indoor to outdoor penetration, by positioning the broadband router  304  in close proximity to the window  334  and oriented to point toward the base station  104 , the broadband router  304  can receive millimeter wave band downlink signals with less degradation from the base station  104 . For the same reasons, the broadband router  304  can transmit uplink signals to the base station  104 . The broadband router  304  may be configured to transmit sub-7 GHz band or millimeter wave band uplink signals. 
     The flexible neck  312  provides a pathway for electrically connecting the broadband router to the base to supply electrical power to the broadband router. The flexible neck  312  also provides a pathway for a conductor to transfer data signals between the base and the broadband router. In some embodiments, the flexible neck  312  provides a pathway for an ethernet cable to supply electrical power to the broadband router  304  and to transfer data signals between the broadband router  304  and the base  308 . The base  308  comprises terminals adapted for connection to an electrical power outlet. The base  308  may include an ethernet port adapted for connection to an ethernet and may include a USB port adapted to receive a USB device. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the broadband router  304  being supported by the flexible neck  312 . The flexible neck  312  can be bent and the broadband router can be rotated to move the broadband router to a desired position. The flexible neck  312  retains the broadband router  304  in a selected position in relation to the base  308 . As discussed before, the broadband router  304  can be moved in close proximity to the window and pointed toward the base station. The base station  308  may include terminals for connection to an electrical outlet, and may include an ethernet port and a USB port. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the flexible neck  312  according to some disclosed embodiments. The flexible neck  312  may be made of spring, coiled metal, coiled plastic or steel mesh that bends and twists with ease and retains a selected shape. The flexible neck  312  includes attachment means  350  and  354  to connect the flexible neck  312  to the broadband router  304  and to the base  308 . The attachment means  350  and  354  may be any conventional means, such as, for example, bolt, nut and bolt combination, screw, swivel means. 
     According to disclosed embodiments, the broadband router  304  may have a circular shape, a rectangular shape, a square shape or any other shapes. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that, for simplicity and clarity, the full structure and operation of all systems suitable for use with the present disclosure are not being depicted or described herein. Instead, only so much of a system as is unique to the present disclosure or necessary for an understanding of the present disclosure is depicted and described. The remainder of the construction and operation of the disclosed systems may conform to any of the various current implementations and practices known in the art. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that, unless specifically indicated or required by the sequence of operations, certain steps in the processes described above may be omitted, performed concurrently or sequentially, or performed in a different order. Further, no component, element, or process should be considered essential to any specific claimed embodiment, and each of the components, elements, or processes can be combined in still other embodiments. 
     It is important to note that while the disclosure includes a description in the context of a fully functional system, those skilled in the art will appreciate that at least portions of the mechanism of the present disclosure are capable of being distributed in the form of instructions contained within a machine-usable, computer-usable, or computer-readable medium in any of a variety of forms, and that the present disclosure applies equally regardless of the particular type of instruction or signal bearing medium or storage medium utilized to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of machine usable/readable or computer usable/readable mediums include: nonvolatile, hard-coded type mediums such as read only memories (ROMs) or erasable, electrically programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), and user-recordable type mediums such as floppy disks, hard disk drives and compact disk read only memories (CD-ROMs) or digital versatile disks (DVDs).