Modular radio frequency (rf) antenna assemblies

Abstract

Modular RF assemblies are described for radio networks. The modular RF assemblies include a number of replaceable elements for simplified maintenance and upgradability. In particular, the modular RF assemblies include a control assembly which includes electronics, an RF antenna assembly that includes one or more RF antennas, and a mounting plate. The RF antenna assembly is removably mounted to the control assembly, and the control assembly is removably mounted to the mounting plate. During a maintenance operation and/or an upgrade operation, the control assembly and/or the RF antenna assembly may be replaced to resolve a defective component, to modify the orientation or type of the one or more RF antennas, to change the type of wireless spectrum used for the radio network, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a modular Radio Frequency (RF) assembly, comprising:
 a mounting plate; 
 a control assembly removably mounted to the mounting plate, the control assembly including:
 a first RF connector; 
 an RF transceiver electrically coupled to the first RF connector; 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the RF transceiver and configured to direct operation of the RF transceiver; and 
 an interface configured to communicatively couple the processor with a data network, and to electrically couple the control assembly with a power system; 
 
 an RF antenna assembly configured to removably mount to the control assembly, the RF antenna assembly including:
 a second RF connector removably coupled to the first RF connector; and 
 at least one RF antenna electrically coupled to the second RF connector. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the interface comprises a Power Over Ethernet (POE) interface.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the data network comprises a POE data network.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a server configured to manage operation of the control assembly utilizing the POE data network.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the server is configured to manage at least one of an RF channel, an access point setting, and an RF power level of the RF transceiver utilizing communications with the control assembly over the POE data network.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control assembly further includes:
 a first enclosure having a first surface configured to mount to the mounting plate and a second surface configured to mount to the RF antenna assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first RF connector is disposed proximate to the second surface and aligned at the second surface to mate to the second RF connector in response to mounting the RF antenna assembly to the control assembly.   
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a modular Radio Frequency (RF) assembly, comprising:
 a mounting plate; 
 a control assembly removably mounted to the mounting plate, the control assembly including:
 a first RF interface; 
 an RF transceiver electrically coupled to the first RF interface; 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the RF transceiver and configured to direct operation of the RF transceiver; and 
 a Power Over Ethernet (POE) interface configured to communicatively couple the processor with a POE data network, and to electrically power the control assembly; 
 
 an RF antenna assembly removably mounted to the control assembly, the RF antenna assembly including:
 a second RF interface removably coupled to the first RF interface; and 
 at least one RF antenna electrically coupled to the second RF interface; and 
 
   a server configured to manage operation of at least one of the processor and the RF transceiver utilizing the POE data network.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the server is configured to manage at least one of an RF channel, an access point setting, and an RF power level of the RF transceiver utilizing communications to the control assembly over the POE data network.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control assembly further includes:
 a first enclosure having a first surface configured to mount to the mounting plate and a second surface configured to mount to the RF antenna assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first RF interface is disposed proximate to the second surface and aligned at the second surface to mate to the second RF interface in response to mounting the RF antenna assembly to the control assembly.   
     
     
         12 . A system configured to implement a radio network, the system comprising:
 a Power Over Ethernet (POE) data network;   a server that is communicatively coupled to the POE data network; and   a modular Radio Frequency (RF) assembly comprising:
 a mounting plate; 
 a control assembly removably mounted to the mounting plate, the control assembly including:
 a first RF interface; 
 an RF transceiver electrically coupled to the first RF interface; 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the RF transceiver and configured to direct operation of the RF transceiver to implement the radio network based on communications from the server over the POE data network; and 
 a Power Over Ethernet (POE) interface coupled to the POE data network that communicatively couples the processor with the server and electrically powers the RF transceiver; 
 
 an RF antenna assembly removably mounted to the control assembly, the RF antenna assembly including:
 a second RF interface removably coupled to the first RF interface; and 
 at least one RF antenna electrically coupled to the second RF interface. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the server is configured to manage an RF channel of the radio network utilizing communications with the processor over the POE data network.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the server is configured to manage an access point setting of the RF transceiver utilizing communications with the processor over the POE data network.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the server is configured to manage an RF power level of the RF transceiver utilizing communications with the processor over the POE data network.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control assembly further includes:
 a first enclosure having a first surface configured to mount to the mounting plate and a second surface configured to mount to the RF antenna assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first RF interface is disposed proximate to the second surface and aligned at the second surface to mate to the second RF interface in response to mounting the RF antenna assembly to the control assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the RF antenna assembly further comprises:
 a second enclosure having a third surface configured to removably mount to the second surface of the first enclosure. 1.