Abstract:
Disclosed is a wireless node with antenna detachability. Various wireless node configurations allow the 802.11a antenna element and/or the 802.11b/g element to be detached from the base unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The 802.11a physical layer may support wireless communication at rates of up to 54 Mbps in the 5 GHz band. The 802.11a 5 GHz band is divided into a lower band of 5.15-5.25 GHz, a middle band of 5.25-5.35 GHz, and an upper band of 5.725-5.825 GHz.  
         [0002]     The 802.11b physical layer may support wireless communication at rates of up to 11 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. The 802.11g physical layer may support wireless communication at rates of up to 54 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band.  
         [0003]     Operating in any channel of any band can be considered operating in that band.  
         [0004]     Advantageous flexibility would be provided by a wireless node having an external, detachable antenna for 802.11a and/or 802.11b/g communications. For example, the antenna could be relocated in a better location. Various antennas could be used with the wireless node, such as an omnidirectional antenna or a directional antenna. Additionally, electronics could be separated from antenna. A dual band antenna refers generally to the 2.4 GHz band and the lower and middle 802.11a bands. A triband antenna refers generally to the 2.4 GHz band and all 802.11a bands.  
         [0005]     Thus, it would be desirable if a wireless node could support antenna detachability for 802.11a and/or 802.11b/g communications.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Some embodiments include a base unit. The base unit includes an antenna connection point and 802.11 circuitry. The antenna connection point is detachably coupleable to an 802.11a antenna element. The 802.11 circuitry includes 802.11a circuitry. The base unit may include other circuitry as well, such as Bluetooth circuitry, GPRS circuitry, UWB circuitry, and/or other circuitry. Detachably coupling the 802.11a antenna element to the antenna connection point permits the wireless node to have 802.11a communications.  
         [0007]     Some embodiments include a base unit. The base unit includes an antenna connection point and 802.11 circuitry. The antenna connection point is detachably coupleable to an 802.11a antenna element, and at least one of an 802.11b antenna element and an 802.11g antenna element. The 802.11 circuitry includes 802.11a circuitry, and at least one of 802.11b circuitry and 802.11g circuitry. Detachably coupling the 802.11a antenna element, and at least one of the 802.11b antenna element and the 802.11g antenna element, to the antenna connection point permits the wireless node to have 802.11a communications, and at least one of 802.11b communications and 802.11g communications.  
         [0008]     Some embodiments include a base unit and an antenna. The base unit includes a first antenna connection point, a second antenna connection point, and 802.11 circuitry. The first antenna connection point is nondetachably coupled to an 802.11a antenna element. The second antenna connection point is detachably coupleable to at least one of an 802.11b antenna element and an 802.11g antenna element. The 802.11 circuitry includes 802.11a circuitry and at least one of 802.11b circuitry and 802.11g circuitry. The antenna includes the 802.11a antenna element nondetachably coupled to the first antenna connection point. The 802.11a antenna element permits the wireless node to have at least 802.11a communications. Detachably coupling at least one of the 802.11b antenna element and the 802.11g antenna element to the second antenna connection point permits the wireless node to have at least one of 802.11b communications and 802.11g communications 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a wireless node.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of a wireless node with a base unit nondetachably coupled to an antenna with an 802.11a antenna element.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a particular embodiment of a wireless node nondetachably coupled to an 802.11a antenna element and detachably coupled to an 802.11b/g antenna element.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a particular embodiment of a wireless node detachably coupled to an 802.11a antenna element and an 802.11b/g antenna element, via multiple antenna connection points.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a particular embodiment of a wireless node detachably coupled to an 802.11a antenna element and an 802.11b/g antenna element, via a single antenna connection point.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  shows an example of a custom connector for supporting 802.11a signals and 802.11b/g signals.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a particular embodiment of a wireless node detachably coupled to an 802.11a antenna element.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a wireless node. The wireless node may be a bridge, an access point, a router, a gateway, a modem, and/or a client adapter. Some examples of a client adapter are a PC card, a USB device, a PCI card, and/or a mini-PCI card. A base unit  110  includes an antenna connection point  120  and 802.11 circuitry  130 . Additional antenna connection points may exist, permitting spatial diversity and/or multiple input multiple output.  
         [0017]     In some cases, the 802.11 circuitry  130  can include 802.11a circuitry. The antenna connection point  120  can detachably couple to an 802.11a antenna element. Detachably coupling the 802.11a antenna element to the antenna connection point permits the wireless node to have 802.11a communications.  
         [0018]     Antenna elements can radiate and/or receive in the relevant band(s), and may also operate in other frequencies. Some embodiments of the antenna include multiple separate antenna elements, such as for transmitting and/or receiving in various frequency bands. Some embodiments of the antenna include a merged antenna element, which can transmit and/or receive in one or more frequency bands. The antenna can be directly coupled to the base unit, or remotely coupled to the base unit, e.g. via cable.  
         [0019]     The base unit  110  may also include a second antenna connection point. The second antenna connection point is detachably coupleable to an 802.11b antenna element and/or 802.11g antenna element. The 802.11 circuitry  130  can also include 802.11b circuitry and/or 802.11g circuitry. Detachably coupling the 802.11b antenna element and/or the 802.11g antenna element to the second antenna connection point permits the wireless node to have 802.11b communications and/or 802.11g communications.  
         [0020]     The 802.11a antenna element, 802.11b antenna element, and/or the 802.11g antenna element can be in one, two, or more antennas.  
         [0021]     In some cases, the 802.11 circuitry  130  can include 802.11a circuitry, 802.11b circuitry, and/or 802.11g circuitry. The antenna connection point  120  can detachably couple to an 802.11a antenna element, an 802.11b antenna element, and/or 802.11g antenna element. Detachably coupling the 802.11a antenna element, the 802.11b antenna element, and/or the 802.11g antenna element to the first antenna connection point permits the wireless node to have 802.11a communications, 802.11b communications, and/or 802.11g communications.  
         [0022]     The antenna connection points can communicate through one or more conductors, such as pins. If a conductor carries 802.11a signals, 802.11b signals, and/or 802.11g signals, the 802.11a signals can be demultiplexed from the 802.11b signals and/or 802.11g signals.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of a wireless node. A base unit  210  is nondetachably coupled to an antenna  250 . The base unit  210  includes antenna connection points  220  and  222 , and 802.11 circuitry  230 . Antenna connection point  220  is nondetachably coupled to an 802.11a antenna element  260  in the antenna  250 . Additional antenna connection points may exist, permitting spatial diversity and/or multiple input multiple output.  
         [0024]     The 802.11a antenna element permits the wireless node to have at least 802.11a communications. Detachably coupling the 802.11b antenna element and/or the 802.11g antenna element to a second antenna connection point permits the wireless node to have 802.11b communications and/or 802.11g communications.  
         [0025]     The 802.11a antenna element, the 802.11b antenna element, and/or the 802.11g antenna element can be in one, two, or more antennas.  
         [0026]     Some embodiments of the wireless node can provide 802.11a and 802.11g/b at the same time and/or different times.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a particular embodiment of a wireless node. A base unit  310  is coupled to an 802.11a/b/g antenna  350 . The base unit  310  is nondetachably coupled to an 802.11a antenna element via antenna connection point  352 . The base unit  310  is detachably coupled to an 802.11b/g antenna element via antenna connection point  354 . The connection can be via a reverse SMA connector. Additional antenna(s) can provide spatial diversity and/or multiple input multiple output.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows another particular embodiment of a wireless node. A base unit  410  is coupled to an 802.11a/b/g antenna  450 . The base unit  410  is detachably coupled to an 802.11a antenna element via antenna connection point  452 . The base unit  410  is detachably coupled to an 802.11b/g antenna element via antenna connection point  454 . The connections can be via a reverse SMA connector. The connectors can be separate, as shown, or can be integrated into a housing, such that removal of one connector necessitates removing the other connector. Additional antenna(s) can provide spatial diversity and/or multiple input multiple output. Some embodiments block the lower band of 802.11a at all times. Other embodiments selectively allow the lower band of 802.11a, such as when the base unit  410  is coupled to the 802.11a antenna element.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows yet another particular embodiment of a wireless node. A base unit  510  is coupled to an 802.11a/b/g antenna  550 . The base unit  510  is detachably coupled to an 802.11a antenna element and an 802.11b/g element via antenna connection point  552 . The connections can be via a custom connector. Additional antenna(s) can provide spatial diversity and/or multiple input multiple output. Some embodiments block the lower band of 802.11a at all times. Other embodiments selectively allow the lower band of 802.11a, such as when the base unit  510  is coupled to the 802.11a antenna element.  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows an example of a 50 ohm RF bi-coaxial custom connector  610 . In some cases, 802.11a signals can be carried by conductor  620 , and 802.11b/g signals can be carried by conductor  630 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  shows yet another particular embodiment of a wireless node. A base unit  710  is coupled to an 802.11a antenna  750 . The base unit  710  is detachably coupled to an 802.11a antenna element via antenna connection point  752 . The connections can be via a custom connector. Additional antenna(s) can provide spatial diversity and/or multiple input multiple output. Some embodiments block the lower band of 802.11a at all times. Other embodiments selectively allow the lower band of 802.11a, such as when the base unit  710  is coupled to the 802.11a antenna clement.