Abstract: An electronic device includes: a first pair of antennas having a first polarization along a first direction in a plane, where the first pair of antennas are spatially offset from each other along a second direction in the plane; and a second pair of antennas having a second polarization along the second direction, where the second pair of antennas are spatially offset from each other along the first direction. During operation, the electronic device may configure switching elements to: select the first pair of antennas and electrically couple the second pair of antennas to ground; or select the second pair of antennas and electrically couple the first pair of antennas to ground. Then, the electronic device may communicate a packet or a frame with a second electronic device via the selected first pair of antennas or the second pair of antennas.

Abstract: An access point includes a WiFi chipset, a first radio that is coupled to the WiFi chipset and that is selectively coupled to a first radiating element through one of a first filter or a second filter, and a second radio that is coupled between the WiFi chipset and a second radiating element.

Abstract: An electronic device that uses an arbitrary transmit polarization is described. This electronic device includes: a first antenna having a first predefined polarization; and a second antenna having a second predefined polarization, where the second predefined polarization is different from the first predefined polarization. During operation, an interface circuit in the electronic device selectively transmits, from the first antenna, first wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame. Moreover, the interface circuit selectively transmits, from the second antenna, second wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame, where the second wireless signals have a same magnitude as the first wireless signals, and the second wireless signals are transmitted from the second antenna concurrently (or at the same time) as the first wireless signals are transmitted from the first antenna. Note that the interface circuit may dynamically modify the transmit polarization during the communication.

Abstract: An electronic device that communicates a packet or a frame is described. This electronic device includes: at least an antenna having an antenna radiation pattern; an interface circuit; and an antenna cover that includes an integrated static lens, where the antenna cover is selected from a set of antenna covers that includes different integrated static lenses. During operation, the interface circuit may transmit, from the antenna, wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame, where the integrated static lens modifies the antenna radiation pattern of the antenna. For example, the integrated static lens may cause the wireless signals to converge or diverge. Alternatively, the integrated static lens may change an angular elevation of the antenna radiation pattern and/or may provide a correction for pathloss as a function of angle. Note that the integrated static lens may be a stepwise approximation to a predefined function.

Abstract: An electronic device that uses an arbitrary transmit polarization is described. This electronic device includes: a first antenna having a first predefined polarization; and a second antenna having a second predefined polarization, where the second predefined polarization is different from the first predefined polarization. During operation, an interface circuit in the electronic device selectively transmits, from the first antenna, first wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame. Moreover, the interface circuit selectively transmits, from the second antenna, second wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame, where the second wireless signals have a same magnitude as the first wireless signals, and the second wireless signals are transmitted from the second antenna concurrently (or at the same time) as the first wireless signals are transmitted from the first antenna. Note that the interface circuit may dynamically modify the transmit polarization during the communication.

Abstract: An access point includes a data encoder, a first transmit/receive chain coupled to the data encoder, the first transmit/receive chain including a first radio and a first antenna that are configured to transmit RF signals in a first frequency band, a second transmit/receive chain coupled to the data encoder, the second transmit/receive chain including a second radio and a second antenna that are configured to transmit RF signals in the first frequency band, and a switchable ground element that comprises a conductive member that is connected to a ground reference via a switch. The first antenna is separated from the second antenna by a distance that is less than one wavelength of a center frequency of the first operational frequency band.

Abstract: An access point includes a data encoder, a first transmit/receive chain coupled to the data encoder, the first transmit/receive chain including a first radio and a first antenna that are configured to transmit RF signals in a first frequency band, a second transmit/receive chain coupled to the data encoder, the second transmit/receive chain including a second radio and a second antenna that are configured to transmit RF signals in the first frequency band, and a switchable ground element that comprises a conductive member that is connected to a ground reference via a switch. The first antenna is separated from the second antenna by a distance that is less than one wavelength of a center frequency of the first operational frequency band.

Abstract: An electronic device includes: a first pair of antennas having a first polarization along a first direction in a plane, where the first pair of antennas are spatially offset from each other along a second direction in the plane; and a second pair of antennas having a second polarization along the second direction, where the second pair of antennas are spatially offset from each other along the first direction. During operation, the electronic device may configure switching elements to: select the first pair of antennas and electrically couple the second pair of antennas to ground; or select the second pair of antennas and electrically couple the first pair of antennas to ground. Then, the electronic device may communicate a packet or a frame with a second electronic device via the selected first pair of antennas or the second pair of antennas.

Abstract: An electronic device that communicates a packet or a frame is described. This electronic device includes: at least an antenna having an antenna radiation pattern; an interface circuit; and an antenna cover that includes an integrated static lens, where the antenna cover is selected from a set of antenna covers that includes different integrated static lenses. During operation, the interface circuit may transmit, from the antenna, wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame, where the integrated static lens modifies the antenna radiation pattern of the antenna. For example, the integrated static lens may cause the wireless signals to converge or diverge. Alternatively, the integrated static lens may change an angular elevation of the antenna radiation pattern and/or may provide a correction for pathloss as a function of angle. Note that the integrated static lens may be a stepwise approximation to a predefined function.

Abstract: An electronic device that uses an arbitrary transmit polarization is described. This electronic device includes: a first antenna having a first predefined polarization; and a second antenna having a second predefined polarization, where the second predefined polarization is different from the first predefined polarization. During operation, an interface circuit in the electronic device selectively transmits, from the first antenna, first wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame. Moreover, the interface circuit selectively transmits, from the second antenna, second wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame, where the second wireless signals have a same magnitude as the first wireless signals, and the second wireless signals are transmitted from the second antenna concurrently (or at the same time) as the first wireless signals are transmitted from the first antenna. Note that the interface circuit may dynamically modify the transmit polarization during the communication.