JP6908850B2 - Wireless LAN communication device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless LAN communication device.

Conventionally, a wireless communication device having a plurality of antennas used for wireless communication in the same frequency band is known (for example, Patent Document 1). Further, a wireless LAN communication device that executes wireless communication using the 5 GHz band Low (5150-5250 MHz / 5250-5350 MHz) and the 2.4 GHz band (2401-2483 MHz) is known (for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-10727 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-31628

Here, in the case of using the 5 GHz band High (5470-5725 MHZ) in addition to the 5 GHz band Low (5150-5250 MHz / 5250-5350 MHz) and the 2.4 GHz band (2401-2483 MHz) as the frequency band in the wireless LAN communication device. There is. In this case, the wireless LAN communication device may have a shared antenna used for the 5 GHz band High and the 5 GHz band Low, and another antenna used for the 2.4 GHz band. However, in this case, since the statutory radio wave output limit value is lower in the 5 GHz band Low than in the 5 GHz band High, the radio wave output in the 5 GHz band High is lower than the radio wave output limit value in the 5 GHz band High. .. Therefore, in a wireless LAN communication device that can use three different frequency bands, there may be a problem that the radio wave output of the 5 GHz band High cannot be effectively used. For example, when the radio wave output of the 5 GHz band High is low, the distance during which wireless communication is possible becomes short. Therefore, in a wireless LAN communication device that can use three frequency bands, a technique capable of increasing the radio wave output in the 5 GHz band High is desired. Further, a device that provides high-pixel video content such as a connection destination such as a 4K television or an 8K television, which preferably performs wireless communication using a high frequency band of 5 GHz band High (frequency band of 5470-5725 MHz) or the like. The number of wireless repeaters, which enable wireless communication throughout the house, is increasing. When connecting to such a connection destination, it is difficult to secure a sufficient communicable distance with a wireless LAN communication device equipped with a shared antenna used for the 5 GHz band High and the 5 GHz band Low, and the speed is sufficient. It is also difficult to secure. Further, when connecting to such a connection destination, even a wireless LAN communication device having a plurality of antennas used for wireless communication in the same frequency band (5 GHz band Low or 2.4 GHz band) has a sufficient communication speed. It is difficult to secure.

The present disclosure has been made to solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized in the following forms.

(1) According to one form of the present disclosure, a wireless LAN communication device is provided. This wireless LAN communication device uses either a first wireless communication unit that executes wireless communication using a frequency band of 5470-5725 MHz, a frequency band of 5150-5250 MHz, or a frequency band of 5250-5350 MHz. A second wireless communication unit that executes wireless communication, a third wireless communication unit that executes wireless communication using a frequency band of 2401-2483 MHz, and a first wireless communication unit connected to the first wireless communication unit. The antenna unit is provided with a second wireless communication unit and a second antenna unit connected to the third wireless communication unit. The radio wave output of the first antenna unit of the radio communication executed by the first radio communication unit defined by the equivalent isotropic radiation power in the bandwidth of 1 MHz is defined by the equivalent isotropic radiation power in the bandwidth of 1 MHz. It is higher than the radio wave output of the wireless communication executed by the second antenna unit when the second wireless communication unit is executed. According to the wireless LAN communication device of this form, the first antenna unit connected to the first wireless communication unit and the second antenna unit connected to the second wireless communication unit and the third wireless communication unit are connected. It is equipped with an antenna unit. Therefore, the first wireless communication unit and the first antenna unit that execute wireless communication using the frequency band of 5470-5725 MHz are designed by limiting the radio wave output of the frequency band of 5150-5250 MHz and the frequency band of 5250-5350 MHz. Not affected by. Therefore, according to this wireless LAN communication device, the radio wave output of the first antenna unit can be higher than the radio wave output of the second antenna unit when the second wireless communication unit executes wireless communication.

(2) In the wireless LAN communication device of the above embodiment, the antenna gain of the first antenna portion may be higher than the antenna gain of the second antenna portion. According to the wireless LAN communication device of this form, the antenna gain of the first antenna portion is higher than the antenna gain of the second antenna portion, so that the antenna gain of the first antenna portion is higher than the antenna gain of the second antenna portion. Compared with the case where it is not higher, the radio wave output of the wireless communication executed by the first wireless communication unit connected to the first antenna unit can be easily increased.

(3) In the wireless LAN communication device of the above embodiment, the directivity of the first antenna unit may be higher than the directivity of the second antenna unit. According to this form of wireless LAN communication device, the antenna gain of the first antenna portion can be increased by making the directivity of the first antenna portion higher than the directivity of the second antenna portion.

(4) The wireless LAN communication device of the above embodiment further includes a housing for accommodating the first wireless communication unit, the second wireless communication unit, and the third wireless communication unit, and the first antenna. The first antenna unit is provided with a rotation axis for changing the direction of the unit, a direction changing unit for changing the maximum gain direction, which is the direction in which the antenna gain of the antenna beam of the first antenna unit is maximized. May be arranged on the outer wall surface of the housing. According to this form of wireless LAN communication device, the maximum gain direction can be easily changed by the direction changing unit.

(5) The wireless LAN communication device of the above-described embodiment may further include an identification unit that is visible from the outside and is for identifying the first antenna unit. According to this form of the wireless LAN communication device, the user of the wireless LAN communication device can visually identify the first antenna portion.

(6) In the wireless LAN communication device of the above-described embodiment, the direction changing unit may be able to change the angle formed by the horizontal direction and the maximum gain direction. According to this form of wireless LAN communication device, the maximum gain direction of the first antenna unit can be changed in the vertical direction by the direction changing unit.

(7) In the wireless LAN communication device of the above-described embodiment, the direction changing unit sets the maximum gain direction at least one of a range from the horizontal direction to the vertically upward direction and a range from the horizontal direction to the vertically downward direction. It may be changeable within the range including one. According to this form of the wireless LAN communication device, it is possible to direct the maximum gain direction to the device installed in the horizontal direction of the wireless LAN communication device. Further, it is possible to direct the maximum gain direction to the device installed directly above or below the wireless LAN communication device.

(8) In the wireless LAN communication device of the above-described embodiment, the direction changing unit may further change the maximum gain direction in the horizontal direction. According to this form of the wireless LAN communication device, the maximum gain direction in the horizontal direction can be changed without changing the arrangement position of the wireless LAN communication device itself.

(9) In the wireless LAN communication device of the above-described embodiment, the outer wall surface may be the side surface of the housing. According to this form of wireless LAN communication device, the maximum gain direction is easily directed to both the upper side and the lower side as compared with the case where the first antenna portion is provided on the outer wall surface other than the side surface, that is, the upper surface or the lower surface. be able to.

(10) In the wireless LAN communication device of the above-described embodiment, the second antenna portion may be housed inside the housing. According to this form of the wireless LAN communication device, the first antenna portion can be easily identified as compared with the case where the second antenna portion is arranged outside the housing.

(11) The wireless LAN communication device of the above-described embodiment is a direction display unit that can be visually recognized from the outside, and indicates a maximum gain direction that is a direction in which the antenna gain of the antenna beam of the first antenna unit is maximized. A direction display unit may be provided. According to this form of wireless LAN communication device, the user can grasp the maximum gain direction of the first antenna unit from the outside.

(12) The wireless LAN communication device of the above embodiment further includes a first power amplifier that amplifies the power input from the first wireless communication unit to the first antenna unit, and the second wireless communication unit. A second power amplifier that amplifies the power input to the second antenna unit may be provided. The power amplified by the first power amplifier may be higher than the power amplified by the second power amplifier. According to this form of wireless LAN communication device, the power amplified by the first power amplifier is made higher than the power amplified by the second power amplifier, so that the radio wave output of the first antenna portion is increased. can.

(13) In the wireless LAN communication device of the above embodiment, the first wireless communication unit executes the wireless communication using channel bonding that collectively uses a plurality of channels belonging to the frequency band of 5470-5725 MHz. May be good. According to this form of wireless LAN communication device, since the first wireless communication unit executes wireless communication using channel bonding, wireless communication can be performed using a wider bandwidth as compared with the case where channel bonding is not used. ..

(14) In the wireless LAN communication device of the above embodiment, the first wireless communication unit uses the channel bonding, so that the bandwidth used for the wireless communication executed by the third wireless communication unit is larger than the bandwidth used for the wireless communication. The wireless communication may be performed using a wide bandwidth. According to this form of wireless LAN communication device, the first wireless communication unit executes wireless communication using a bandwidth wider than the bandwidth used for wireless communication executed by the third wireless communication unit. , The amount of communication that can be communicated at one time can be increased as compared with the wireless communication executed by the third wireless communication unit.

(15) In the wireless LAN communication device of the above embodiment, the first antenna unit may have a plurality of antennas, and the first wireless communication unit may execute the above-mentioned wireless communication of the MIMO method. According to this form of wireless LAN communication device, since the first wireless communication unit executes MIMO wireless communication, the communication speed can be increased as compared with the case where the MIMO system is not used.

The present disclosure can be realized in various forms other than the wireless LAN communication device, for example, a control method of the wireless LAN communication device, an antenna device used for the wireless LAN communication, and a network system including the wireless LAN communication device. It can be realized in the form of.

The schematic block diagram of the network system including the wireless LAN communication apparatus as 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the directivity of the 1st antenna part. The figure which shows the directivity of the 2nd antenna part. The graph which shows the output value of the wireless communication executed by the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on a comparative example. The graph which shows the output value of the wireless communication executed by the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on a comparative example. The schematic diagram of the house which carried out the experiment which compared the communication speed of the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment and the communication speed of a comparison apparatus. A table showing the results of comparative experiments. The graph which shows the output value of the wireless communication executed by the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the appearance of the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The first side view of the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The second side view of the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The first top view of the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The second top view of the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The first schematic diagram which shows the appearance of the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. The second schematic diagram which shows the appearance of the wireless LAN communication apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

A. 1st Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network system 200 including a wireless LAN communication device 100 as the first embodiment. The network system 200 includes a wireless LAN communication device 100 and three client devices CL1, CL2, and CL3.

The wireless LAN communication device 100 is a wireless LAN access point and is connected to the Internet INT via a wired cable. The wireless LAN communication device 100 also functions as a wired LAN access point.

The client devices CL1 to CL3 are devices connected to the Internet INT via the wireless LAN communication device 100. The first client device CL1 and the second client device CL2 are wirelessly connected to the wireless LAN communication device 100. The third client device CL3 is wiredly connected to the wireless LAN communication device 100. The first client device CL1 is a device whose use position is fixed in normal use, for example, a wireless LAN repeater that relays television and wireless communication. In this embodiment, the first client device CL1 is a television. The second client device CL2 is a device whose usage position is not fixed in normal use, for example, a smartphone or a tablet computer. In the present embodiment, the second client device CL2 is a tablet computer. The third client device CL3 is, for example, a personal computer (PC). The network system 200 may include client devices other than the client devices CL1 to CL3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the wireless LAN communication device 100. The wireless LAN communication device 100 includes a first wireless communication unit 11, a second wireless communication unit 12, a third wireless communication unit 13, a first antenna unit 20, a second antenna unit 30, and the like. It includes a wired communication unit 40, a baseband processor 50, a storage unit 60, and a control unit 90. In the present embodiment, the wireless LAN communication device 100 uses three frequency bands: a frequency band of 5470-5725 MHz, a frequency band of 5150-5250 MHz, a frequency band of 5250-5350 MHz, and a frequency band of 2401-2483 MHz. It is a tri-band wireless LAN communication device.

The tri-band wireless LAN communication device is a wireless LAN communication device including wireless communication units 11 to 13 that execute wireless communication using the above three frequency bands, and mainly executes wireless communication using the above three frequency bands. Is. Therefore, in addition to the three wireless communication units 11 to 13, the tri-band wireless LAN communication device complies with a communication unit that executes wireless communication using a different frequency band and a standard different from IEEE802.11. A wireless LAN communication device including a communication unit that executes wireless communication, a wired communication unit 40, and the like is also included. Wireless communication using another frequency band includes, for example, a sub-giga band which is a frequency band less than 1 GHz (916.5-927.5 MHz) and a 60 GHz band which is a frequency band centered on a frequency near 60 GHz. It was wireless communication. Wireless communication conforming to a standard different from IEEE802.11 is, for example, wireless communication using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Zigbee (registered trademark).

In the following, the frequency band of 5470-5725 MHz will be referred to as the 5 GHz band High. Further, the frequency band of 5150-5250 MHz and the frequency band of 5250-5350 MHz are described as 5 GHz band Low. The frequency band of 2401-2483 MHz is described as a 2.4 GHz band. A plurality of channels belong to each of the 5 GHz band High, the 5 GHz band Low, and the 2.4 GHz band. Specifically, the channels belonging to the 5 GHz band High are 11 channels of 100ch, 104ch, 108ch, 112ch, 116ch, 120ch, 124ch, 128ch, 132ch, 136ch, and 140ch. The channels belonging to the 5 GHz band Low are 4 channels of 36ch, 40ch, 44ch, and 48ch, and 4 channels of 52ch, 56ch, 60ch, and 64ch, for a total of 8 channels. The channels belonging to the 2.4 GHz band are 13 channels of 1ch to 13ch.

The first wireless communication unit 11 has a first RF circuit rf11, rf12, and a first power amplifier a11, a12. The first wireless communication unit 11 is electrically connected to the baseband processor 50 and the first antenna unit 20. The first wireless communication unit 11 executes wireless communication conforming to IEEE802.11a / n / ac using the 5 GHz band High. The first RF circuits rf11 and rf12 convert the baseband signal transmitted from the baseband processor 50 into a high frequency which is an electric signal of the 5 GHz band High, or base the high frequency received by the first antenna unit 20. Convert to a band signal. The first power amplifiers a11 and a12 amplify the power input from the first wireless communication unit 11 to the first antenna unit 20. Specifically, the first power amplifier a11 amplifies the high-frequency power output from the first RF circuit rf11 to the first antenna unit 20, and the first power amplifier a12 is the first RF circuit rf12. Amplifies the high-frequency power output from the first antenna unit 20 to the first antenna unit 20. In the following, when the common function and configuration of the first RF circuit rf11 and the first RF circuit rf12 will be described, it will be referred to as the first RF circuit rf1. Similarly, when the common functions and configurations of the first power amplifiers a11 and a12 are described, they will be referred to as the first power amplifiers a1. Details of the wireless communication executed by the first wireless communication unit 11 will be described later.

The first antenna unit 20 has a first dedicated antenna 211, a second dedicated antenna 212, and connector terminals c11 and c12. The connector terminal c11 is a terminal unit that connects the first dedicated antenna 211 and the first wireless communication unit 11. The connector terminal c12 is a terminal unit that connects the second dedicated antenna 212 and the first wireless communication unit 11. In the following, when the common function and configuration of the first dedicated antenna 211 and the second dedicated antenna 212 will be described, it will be referred to as the dedicated antenna 21. Similarly, when explaining the common functions and configurations of the connector terminals c11 and c12, it is described as the connector terminal c1.

The dedicated antenna 21 has higher directivity and antenna gain than the shared antenna 31 included in the second antenna portion 30, which will be described later. The directivity is an antenna characteristic defined by the half width of the antenna beam, and is the directivity in the horizontal direction in the present embodiment. The directivity of the dedicated antenna 21 is preferably a value in the range of 100 ° or more and 150 ° or less. The antenna gain is evaluated by the absolute gain relative to the isotropic antenna, which is a virtual isotropic antenna. The antenna gain of the first antenna unit 20 is preferably a value of 7 dBi or more. When an antenna having a high antenna gain is used, the radio wave output is higher than when an antenna gain having a low antenna gain is used. The antenna gain is increased, for example, by increasing the size of the antenna and increasing the directivity. The antenna gain of the dedicated antenna 21 is also described as the antenna gain of the first antenna unit 20. Details of the dedicated antenna 21 will be described later.

The second wireless communication unit 12 has a second RF circuit rf21, rf22, and a second power amplifier a21, a22. The second wireless communication unit 12 is electrically connected to the baseband processor 50 and the second antenna unit 30. The second wireless communication unit 12 executes wireless communication conforming to IEEE802.11a / n / ac using the 5 GHz band Low. The second RF circuits rf21 and rf22 convert the baseband signal transmitted from the baseband processor 50 into a high frequency which is an electric signal of the 5 GHz band Low, or base the high frequency received by the second antenna unit 30. Convert to a band signal. The second power amplifiers a21 and a22 amplify the power input from the second wireless communication unit 12 to the second antenna unit 30. Specifically, the second power amplifier a21 amplifies the high frequency power output from the second RF circuit rf21 to the second antenna unit 30, and the second power amplifier a22 a second RF circuit rf22. Amplifies the high-frequency power output from the second antenna unit 30 to the second antenna unit 30. In the following, when the common function and configuration of the second RF circuit rf21 and the second RF circuit rf22 will be described, it will be referred to as the second RF circuit rf2. Similarly, when the common functions and configurations of the second power amplifiers a21 and a22 are described, the second power amplifiers a2 will be described. Details of the wireless communication executed by the second wireless communication unit 12 will be described later.

The third wireless communication unit 13 has a third RF circuit rf31, rf32, and a third power amplifier a31, a32. The third wireless communication unit 13 is electrically connected to the baseband processor 50 and the second antenna unit 30. The third wireless communication unit 13 executes wireless communication conforming to IEEE802.11b / g / n using the 2.4 GHz band. The third RF circuits rf31 and rf32 convert the baseband signal transmitted from the baseband processor 50 into a high frequency which is an electric signal in the 2.4 GHz band, or convert the high frequency received by the second antenna unit 30. Convert to baseband signal. The third power amplifiers a31 and a32 amplify the power input from the third wireless communication unit 13 to the second antenna unit 30. Specifically, the third power amplifier a31 amplifies the high frequency power output from the third RF circuit rf31 to the second antenna unit 30, and the third power amplifier a32 ath3 is the third RF circuit rf32. Amplifies the high-frequency power output from the second antenna unit 30 to the second antenna unit 30. In the following, when the common functions and configurations of the third RF circuit rf31 and the third RF circuit rf32 are described, the third RF circuit rf31 and the third RF circuit rf32 are the third RF circuit rf3. It is described as. Similarly, when the common functions and configurations of the third power amplifiers a31 and a32 are described, the third power amplifiers a3 will be described. Details of the wireless communication executed by the third wireless communication unit 13 will be described later.

The second antenna portion 30 has a first shared antenna 311 and a second shared antenna 312, and connector terminals c21 and c22. The connector terminal c21 is a terminal unit that connects the first shared antenna 311 and the second wireless communication unit 12 and the third wireless communication unit 13. The connector terminal c22 is a terminal unit that connects the second shared antenna 312, the second wireless communication unit 12, and the third wireless communication unit 13. Demultiplexers dl1 and dl2 are arranged between the connector terminals c21 and c22 and the second wireless communication unit 12 and the third wireless communication unit 13, respectively. The duplexers dl1 and dl2 are devices that separate signals for each frequency band and make it possible to share an antenna in a plurality of different frequency bands. In the following, when the common function and configuration of the first shared antenna 311 and the shared antenna 312 will be described, it will be referred to as the shared antenna 31. Similarly, when explaining the common functions and configurations of the connector terminals c21 and c22, the connector terminal c2 will be described. Similarly, when the common functions and configurations of the demultiplexer dl1 and dl2 are described, the demultiplexer dl is described.

The shared antenna 31 is omnidirectional and has a lower antenna gain than the dedicated antenna 21. The omnidirectional means an antenna characteristic in which the half width of the antenna beam, which is an evaluation standard of directivity, cannot be calculated. The antenna characteristic for which the half width cannot be calculated corresponds to, for example, the case where the maximum value of the antenna gain in the antenna beam is less than 3 dBi, or the case where the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the antenna gain in the antenna beam is less than 3 dBi. .. The shared antenna 31 is an antenna that can be shared for wireless communication using different frequency bands, and is, for example, an antenna having two antenna substrates for one antenna terminal, a so-called dual band antenna. The antenna gain of the shared antenna 31 is also described as the antenna gain of the second antenna unit 30. Details of the shared antenna 31 will be described later.

The baseband processor 50 is a semiconductor integrated circuit, and generates a baseband signal from data transmitted via wireless communication, or generates data from a baseband signal received via wireless communication. The data generated by the baseband processor 50 is transmitted to the wireless communication units 11 to 13.

The storage unit 60 has a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory (not shown). The non-volatile memory stores a control program necessary for executing the function of the wireless LAN communication device 100. The volatile memory temporarily stores the information acquired by the communication of the wireless LAN communication device 100.

The wired communication unit 40 executes wired communication with the client device CL3 (FIG. 1) connected by wire. In the present embodiment, the wireless LAN communication device 100 includes the wired communication unit 40, but the wireless LAN communication device 100 does not have to include the wired communication unit 40.

The control unit 90 has a CPU (not shown). The control unit 90 is electrically connected to the storage unit 60. Further, the control unit 90 controls the first wireless communication unit 11, the second wireless communication unit 12, the third wireless communication unit 13, and the baseband processor 50. The control unit 90 controls the wireless LAN communication device 100 by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 60. For example, the control unit 90 determines which of the wireless communication units 11 to 13 the client device CL2 (FIG. 1), whose use position is not fixed in normal use, is connected to. Specifically, the control unit 90 switches the connection destination of the client device CL2 by band steering. The band steering is a process of determining in real time the wireless communication unit capable of optimal communication in relation to the client device CL2 among the wireless communication units 11 to 13 based on the communication speed, and switching the connection destination. In the present embodiment, the control unit 90 switches the connection destination of the client device CL2 based on the communication speed. For example, the radio wave strength, the link speed, the number of client devices to be used, and the radio wave interference status are used. You may switch based on. Further, the user of the client device CL2 may switch the connection destination of the client device CL2.

The first wireless communication unit 11 executes MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) type wireless communication. In addition, the first wireless communication unit 11 executes wireless communication using channel bonding.

MIMO-type wireless communication is a transmission method in which signals are spatially multiplexed and transmitted using a plurality of transmission / reception antennas. In MIMO-type wireless communication, it is possible to increase the channel capacity as compared with SISO (Single Input Single Output) type wireless communication using only one antenna. In the present embodiment, the MIMO-type wireless communication executed by the first wireless communication unit 11 is a 2 × 2 MIMO system in which two antennas are used for transmission and reception. When executing MIMO-type wireless communication, it is necessary that the correlation between the plurality of dedicated antennas 211 and 212 provided in the first antenna unit 20 is small. The correlation between antennas decreases, for example, as the distance between antennas increases. In the present embodiment, the 2 × 2 MIMO system is adopted, but when the first antenna unit 20 has three or more antennas, the 3 × 3 MIMO system or 4 × 3 according to the number of antennas. The 4 MIMO method may be adopted. Further, when the connected client device does not support the MIMO method, the wireless communication of the SISO method may be executed. In the present embodiment, the first wireless communication unit 11 adopts a configuration capable of executing MIMO-type wireless communication, but may adopt a configuration capable of executing only MIMO-type wireless communication. In this case, the number of antennas included in the first antenna unit 20 may be one.

The channel bonding used by the first wireless communication unit 11 is a technique for expanding the bandwidth used for wireless communication by grouping a plurality of channels among the channels belonging to the 5 GHz band High. The bandwidth used by the first wireless communication unit 11 for wireless communication is preferably wider than the bandwidth used by the third wireless communication unit 13 for wireless communication. Specifically, the first wireless communication unit 11 can perform wireless communication using a bandwidth of 80 MHz by grouping four channels having a bandwidth of 20 MHz. Wireless communication using a wide bandwidth increases the communication capacity that can be communicated at one time as compared with wireless communication using a narrow bandwidth. When the communication capacity that can be communicated at one time is large, the conditions that require continuous large-capacity communication, such as streaming playback of high-quality video on a 4K TV, and a large number of wireless handsets, are compared to the case where the communication capacity is small. Communication delay in wireless communication with the connected wireless repeater is suppressed. In the present embodiment, the channel bonding performed by the first wireless communication unit 11 expands the bandwidth by grouping the four channels, but the channels may be multiples of 2. The channel bonding performed by the first wireless communication unit 11 may, for example, combine eight or more even-numbered channels or combine two channels. In the present embodiment, when the channel used for channel bonding includes an inappropriate channel, channel bonding may be performed so that the bandwidth is narrower than the set bandwidth. An inappropriate channel is a channel in which communication at a sufficient communication speed is difficult due to, for example, interference or the influence of the number of connected communication devices. For example, even if the first wireless communication unit 11 is set to combine eight channels and execute wireless communication with a bandwidth of 160 MHz, it is appropriate to perform channel bonding that combines four channels. If so, the latter may be executed.

The second wireless communication unit 12 is a MIMO-type wireless communication using channel bonding, similarly to the first wireless communication unit 11. However, the 5 GHz band Low used by the second wireless communication unit 12 has fewer channels to which the 5 GHz band High used by the first wireless communication unit 11 belongs. Therefore, the second wireless communication unit 12 is more likely to include an inappropriate channel among the plurality of channels used for channel bonding as compared with the first wireless communication unit 11. If an inappropriate channel is included, the second wireless communication unit 12 executes wireless communication with a narrow bandwidth. Therefore, the second wireless communication unit 12 may execute wireless communication with a narrower bandwidth than the first wireless communication unit 11. The second wireless communication unit 12 uses the second antenna unit 30 in common with the third wireless communication unit 13 when executing wireless communication. When the second antenna unit 30 is used in common, time division is used. For time division, for example, the communication unit connected in a state where power can be output to the second antenna unit 30 by the switch function of the demultiplexer dl is connected to the second wireless communication unit 12 and the third wireless communication unit. It is executed by switching to either one of 13.

The third wireless communication unit 13 is a MIMO-type wireless communication like the first wireless communication unit 11 and the second wireless communication unit 12. Further, the third wireless communication unit 13 executes wireless communication using channel bonding. Here, the third wireless communication unit 13 executes wireless communication with a bandwidth of 40 MHz by combining the two channels. This is because the number of channels that can be used for channel bonding is smaller in the 2.4 GHz band than in the 5 GHz band High and the 5 GHz band Low. Further, the 2.4 GHz band is more likely to have a decrease in communication speed due to interference than the 5 GHz band High and the 5 GHz band Low. Therefore, when a channel inappropriate for wireless communication with a bandwidth of 40 MHz is included, the third wireless communication unit 13 may execute wireless communication with a bandwidth of 20 MHz without using channel bonding. In such a case, for example, there are many devices that cause interference and devices that perform wireless communication using the 2.4 GHz band, such as in urban areas.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the directivity of the first antenna portion 20 in the horizontal direction. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the directivity of the second antenna portion 30 in the horizontal direction. 3 and 4 show the relationship between the direction (-180 to 180 °) and the antenna gain. In FIG. 3, the direction in which the antenna gain of the first antenna portion 20 is maximized (maximum gain direction) is 90 °.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first antenna unit 20 has an antenna gain of 7 dBi in the maximum direction of the antenna gain. The directions in which the antenna gain is 4 dBi, which is 3 dBi lower than the antenna gain in the maximum direction, are 30 ° and 150 °. That is, the half width θ of the antenna beam be1 in the first antenna unit 20 is 120 °. The dedicated antenna 21 is, for example, a sector antenna in which a reflector is arranged on a dipole antenna, or a Yagi-Uda antenna. In the present embodiment, the dedicated antenna 21 employs a Yagi-Uda antenna having a directivity of 120 ° and an antenna gain of 7 dBi. When the directivity is high, the radio wave output can be concentrated in a specific direction as compared with the case where the directivity is low. Therefore, when the directivity is high, stable wireless communication with the client device CL1 (FIG. 1) installed at a distant place is possible as compared with the case where the directivity is low. Specifically, the dedicated antenna 21 has a narrower communicable area than an antenna having the same antenna gain and low directivity, even if the communicable distance is the same. Therefore, since the dedicated antenna 21 having high directivity has a relatively narrow communicable area, it is possible to suppress a decrease in communication speed due to the connection of a large number of client devices CL1 and CL2 (FIG. 1). can. Therefore, the dedicated antenna 21 can perform stable wireless communication with a specific connection destination by directing the maximum gain direction to a specific direction. Further, the antenna having high directivity can easily reduce the correlation between the two dedicated antennas 211 and 212 as compared with the case where the directivity is low. Therefore, the distance between the two dedicated antennas 211 and 212 can be reduced as compared with the case where the directivity is low. Further, when the antenna having high directivity and the antenna having low directivity have the same antenna gain, the antenna having high directivity is easier to be miniaturized. In the present embodiment, the first antenna unit 20 has a mechanism (not shown) for changing the direction of the dedicated antenna 21. By this mechanism, the wireless LAN communication device 100 can adjust the antenna maximum gain direction of the dedicated antenna 21 so as to coincide with the direction in which the client device CL1 is installed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the shared antenna 31 has an antenna gain of 2.14 dBi in the maximum direction of the antenna gain. Since the antenna gain of the shared antenna 31 is less than 3 dBi, the half width of the antenna beam be2 in the shared antenna 31 cannot be calculated. That is, the shared antenna 31 is an omnidirectional antenna. The second antenna portion 30 has less variation in antenna gain depending on the direction than the first antenna portion 20. As the omnidirectional antenna, for example, a half-wave dipole antenna or a monopole antenna can be used. In this embodiment, the shared antenna 31 is a pair of half-wave dipole antennas with an antenna gain of 2.14 dBi. The pair of half-wave dipole antennas are arranged so that the central axes of the antenna beams intersect each other vertically. In the present embodiment, the shared antenna 31 is an omnidirectional antenna, but is not limited thereto. The shared antenna 31 may be an antenna having a lower directivity than the dedicated antenna 21. Even in this case, the second antenna portion 30 has less variation in antenna gain depending on the direction than the first antenna portion 20.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing an output value of wireless communication executed by the wireless LAN communication device 100 according to the first embodiment. This graph shows the terminal input power and the radio wave output of the antenna units 20 and 30 when each wireless communication unit 11 to 13 executes wireless communication using a bandwidth of 20 MHz as an output value. In FIG. 5, the terminal input power is shown by cross-hatching, and the radio wave outputs of the antenna portions 20 and 30 are shown by single hatching. The terminal input power and the radio wave output are expressed in the same unit (mW / MHz). In the present embodiment, the "terminal input power" is a 1 MHz band supplied from the wireless communication units 11 to 13 which are transmitters to the connector terminals c1 and c2 of the antenna units 20 and 30 which are supply lines of the antenna system. Average power in width. The radio wave output of the antenna units 20 and 30 is defined by the equivalent isotropic radiated power in the bandwidth of 1 MHz. The "equivalent isotropic radiated power" means the average power (terminal input power) supplied to the connector terminals c1 and c2 multiplied by the antenna gain in the maximum gain direction of the antenna units 20 and 30. The equivalent isotropic radiated power is also referred to as effective isotropic radiated power (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power).

The power amplifiers a1 to a3 are designed so that the power input from the wireless communication units 11 to 13 to the antenna units 20 and 30 is equal to or less than the legal output limit. Here, the electric power input from the wireless communication units 11 to 13 to the antenna units 20 and 30 is evaluated by the average power input from the wireless communication units 11 to 13 to the connector terminals c1 and c2. Further, the antenna gains of the antenna units 20 and 30 are designed so that the radio wave output of the antenna units 20 and 30 is equal to or less than the legal output limit. Here, the wireless LAN communication device 100 sets the maximum value of the output value for each frequency band so as to be equal to or less than the legal output limit. The following shows the maximum value of the output value of each frequency band when performing wireless communication using a bandwidth of 20 MHz. In the 5 GHz band High, the maximum value of the terminal input power is 10 mW / MHz, and the maximum value of the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 is 50 mW / MHz. The maximum value of the radio wave output in the 5 GHz band Low is 10 mW / MHz. The maximum value of the terminal input power in the 2.4 GHz band is 10 mW / MHz. Therefore, the 5 GHz band High is capable of wireless communication with a higher radio wave output than the 5 GHz band Low. When the radio wave output is high, wireless communication with the client devices CL1 and CL2 (FIG. 1) located at a distant place is possible as compared with the case where the radio wave output is low.

The wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High executed by the first wireless communication unit 11 is a radio wave using the 5 GHz band Low by using the first antenna unit 20 provided exclusively for the first wireless communication unit 11. There is no limit to the maximum value of radio wave output in communication. Therefore, wireless communication in the 5 GHz band High can be executed with a higher radio wave output than in the 5 GHz band Low. The radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 that executes wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High is preferably higher than the radio wave output of the second antenna unit 30 when the 5 GHz band Low is used, and is twice as high. The above is more preferable. Further, the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 that executes wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High is more preferably 20 mW / MHz or more and 50 mW / MHz or less, and most preferably about the same as the maximum value. .. The same degree as the maximum value means 40 mW / MHz or more and 50 mW / MHz or less, which is 80% or more and 100% or less of the maximum value (50 mW / MHz) of the radio wave output. Here, the terminal input power of the first connector terminal c1 is the terminal input of the second connector terminal c2 if the radio wave output of the wireless communication in the 5 GHz band High is higher than the radio wave output of the wireless communication in the 5 GHz band Low. It may be lower than the power. In the present embodiment, the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 that executes wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High is 50 mW / MHz.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the wireless LAN communication device 400 according to the comparative example. FIG. 7 is a graph showing an output value of wireless communication executed by the wireless LAN communication device 400 according to the comparative example. As output values, the terminal input power and the radio wave output of the antenna units 420 and 430 when each wireless communication unit 11 to 13 executes wireless communication using a bandwidth of 20 MHz are shown. In the following, the wireless LAN communication device 400 according to the comparative example will be referred to as the comparison device 400.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first antenna unit 420 included in the comparison device 400 executes wireless communication using the first wireless communication unit 11 and the 5 GHz band Low, which executes wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High. It is connected to the second wireless communication unit 12. The antenna 421 included in the first antenna unit 420 is an antenna having an antenna gain of 2.14 dBi. Due to the maximum value of the radio wave output in the 5 GHz band Low, it is difficult for the first antenna unit 420 to use an antenna having a high antenna gain. Therefore, the antenna gain of the first antenna unit 420 is lower than the antenna gain of the first antenna unit 20 (FIG. 2) of the first embodiment. The second antenna unit 430 is connected to the third wireless communication unit 13 that executes wireless communication in the 2.4 GHz band. The antenna 431 included in the second antenna unit 430 is an antenna having an antenna gain of 2.14 dBi. Other configurations are the same as those of the wireless LAN communication device 100 according to the first embodiment. In the comparison device 400, the same configuration as the wireless LAN communication device 100 according to the first embodiment is designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, wireless communication in the 5 GHz band High is executed by a radio wave output lower than 50 mW / MHz, which is the maximum value of the radio wave output in the 5 GHz band High. This is because the first antenna unit 420 is shared and used by the first wireless communication unit 11 and the second wireless communication unit 12, so that the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 420 is in the 5 GHz band Low. This is because it is limited to the limit value or less of the radio wave output in wireless communication. Therefore, the comparison device 400 cannot output a high radio wave output of wireless communication in the 5 GHz band High. Therefore, in the comparison device 400, the communicable distance is shorter than that in the wireless LAN communication device 100 according to the first embodiment, and the installation position of the television or the wireless LAN repeater having a large communication capacity may be limited.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a residential WH in which a comparative experiment was conducted in which the communication speeds of the wireless LAN communication device 100 and the comparison device 400 according to the first embodiment were compared. FIG. 9 is a table showing the results of the comparative experiment. An experiment (comparative experiment) was conducted in which the communication speed (data transmission speed) of the wireless LAN communication device 100 (hereinafter, wireless LAN communication device 100) and the communication speed of the comparison device 400 according to the first embodiment were compared. In the following, the contents and results of the comparative experiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

The comparative experiment was carried out in the wooden house WH shown in FIG. The size of one floor of this wooden house WH is about 11 m in length × about 11 m in width, and the height from the floor on the first floor to the floor on the second floor is about 3 m. The walls that separate the rooms of the wooden house WH are shown by hatching. The wooden house WH has four rooms R1 on the first floor and five rooms R2 to R6 on the second floor. In this comparative experiment, the wireless LAN communication device 100 and the comparison device 400 are installed at a point A, which is the central portion of the room R1 on the first floor of the wooden house WH. The client device CL4, which connects to the Internet via the wireless LAN communication device 100 and the comparison device 400, executes wireless communication at the respective points B to F in the central part of each room R2 to R6 on the second floor of the wooden house WH. did. The client device CL4 is a smartphone that executes 2 × 2 MIMO wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High.

The positional relationship between the points A where the wireless LAN communication device 100 and the comparison device 400 are installed and the points B to F where the client device CL4 has executed wireless communication will be described. Point B is directly above point A. Between the point A and the point B, there is a floor fr on the second floor of the residential WH. There is a wall W1 and a floor fr between the points A and C. There is a wall W1 and a floor fr between the points A and D. The distance between the point A and the point D is larger than the distance between the point A and the point C. Between the points A and E, there are two walls W2, W4 and a floor fr. Between the point A and the point F, there are two walls W2, W5 and a floor fr. Of the distances between points A and points B to F, the distance between points A and F is the largest. The maximum gain direction of the antenna beam of the wireless LAN communication device 100 in the 5 GHz band High is toward the point F. There is a staircase connecting the first floor and the second floor between the room R4 including the point E and the room R5 including the point F.

As shown in FIG. 9, at all the points B to F, the wireless LAN communication device 100 shows a higher communication speed than the comparison device 400. This is because the wireless LAN communication device 100 executes wireless communication with a higher radio wave output than the comparison device 400. Further, the communication speed of the wireless LAN communication device 100 at the point F shows a communication speed of 14 Mbps, which is about 14 times higher than the communication speed of the comparison device 400 of 1 Mbps. This is because the point F is the maximum gain direction of the antenna beam of the wireless LAN communication device 100 in the 5 GHz band High, that is, the direction in which the radio wave output in the wireless LAN communication device is the highest.

According to the first embodiment described above, the wireless LAN communication device 100 includes a first antenna unit 20 connected to the first wireless communication unit 11, a second wireless communication unit 12, and a third wireless communication unit 12. A second antenna unit 30 connected to the wireless communication unit 13 is provided. Therefore, the first wireless communication unit 11 and the first antenna unit 20 that execute wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High have the maximum output in the 5 GHz band Low, which is set to be equal to or less than the legal output limit. Not limited to value. Therefore, the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 can be higher than the radio wave output of the second antenna unit 30 when the second wireless communication unit 12 executes wireless communication. As a result, the wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High can be connected to the client devices CL1 and CL2 farther than the wireless communication using the 5 GHz band Low. Here, the 5 Hz band High is suitable for large-capacity communication using a wider bandwidth than the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band Low. Therefore, the wireless LAN communication device 100 can perform stable large-capacity communication as compared with the 5 GHz band Low and the 2.4 GHz band when wirelessly communicating with the client device CL1 which is installed far away and requires large-capacity communication. Wireless communication is possible using the 5 GHz band High.

Further, according to the first embodiment, the wireless LAN communication device 100 has a dedicated antenna 21 having a higher directivity than the shared antenna 31. Therefore, the first antenna unit 20 can have a higher antenna gain than the second antenna unit 30. Further, when the directivity is high, the wireless LAN communication device 100 can stably output a high output radio wave in a specific direction as compared with the case where the directivity is low. Therefore, the wireless LAN communication device 100 can suppress the decrease in the communication speed even under the condition that the radio wave communication speed is likely to decrease. The condition in which the communication speed tends to decrease is, for example, a case where the wireless LAN communication device 100 installed on the first floor of the house and the client devices CL1 and CL2 used on the second floor are connected. Therefore, for example, the wireless LAN communication device 100 can suppress a decrease in communication speed when connected to a television or a wireless LAN repeater used on a floor different from the wireless LAN communication device 100.

Further, according to the first embodiment, the wireless LAN communication device 100 has a second antenna unit 30 which is a shared antenna unit in the 5 GHz band Low and the 2.4 GHz band. Therefore, the wireless LAN communication device 100 can be miniaturized in the 5 GHz band Low and the 2.4 GHz band as compared with the case where it has separate antenna units.

Further, according to the first embodiment, the wireless LAN communication device 100 can perform wireless communication using channel bonding in wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High. In the 5 GHz band High, wireless communication using a wide bandwidth by channel bonding (for example, a bandwidth of 80 MHz or 160 MHz) can be stably executed as compared with the 2.4 GHz band. As a result, the wireless LAN communication device 100 can stably execute wireless communication using a wide bandwidth as compared with the case where channel bonding is not used in the 5 GHz band High. Therefore, the wireless LAN communication device 100 is a device that requires stable and continuous large-capacity communication, for example, a wireless communication for enabling high-pixel video content such as a 4K or 8K television or wireless communication in the entire house. It is possible to suppress the delay of wireless communication with the repeater.

Further, according to the first embodiment, the wireless LAN communication device 100 has an omnidirectional antenna unit 30 in the 5 GHz band Low and the 2.4 GHz band. That is, when the distance from the wireless LAN communication device 100 is constant, the second antenna unit 30 to which the second and third wireless communication units 12 and 13 are connected is the first wireless communication unit 11. The fluctuation of the radio wave output is smaller than that of the first antenna unit 20 to which the is connected. Therefore, the wireless LAN communication device 100 can prevent the connection with the client device CL2 from becoming unstable even when the client device CL2 moves during use.

B. The second embodiment The wireless LAN communication device 100 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the dedicated antenna 21 has the same antenna gain as the shared antenna 31. In the present embodiment, the dedicated antenna 21 is a half-wave dipole antenna having an antenna gain of 2.14 dBi. Since the second embodiment has the same configuration as the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment will be added, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing an output value of wireless communication executed by the wireless LAN communication device 100 according to the second embodiment. As output values, the terminal input power and the radio wave output of the antenna units 20 and 30 when each wireless communication unit 11 to 13 executes wireless communication using a bandwidth of 20 MHz are shown. In FIG. 10, the terminal input power is shown by cross-hatching, and the radio wave outputs of the antenna portions 20 and 30 are shown by single hatching. Since the output values of the wireless communication in the 5 GHz band Low and the wireless communication in the 2.4 GHz band are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted. In the present embodiment, the average power input to the first connector terminal c1 is 10 mW / MHz. This is because the maximum value of the average power in the 5 GHz band High is 10 mW / MHz. The average power input from the first wireless communication unit 11 to the first antenna unit 20 is higher than the average power input from the second wireless communication unit 12 to the second antenna unit 30. Since the antenna gain of the first antenna unit 20 is 2.14 dBi, the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 is about 16 mW / MHz. Even in this case, the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 is higher than the radio wave output of the second antenna unit 30 when the second wireless communication unit 12 executes wireless communication.

According to the second embodiment described above, as in the first embodiment, the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 is the second antenna unit when the second wireless communication unit 12 executes wireless communication. It can be higher than the radio wave output of 30. As a result, wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High can be connected to a client device farther away than wireless communication using the 5 GHz band Low. Further, the same effects as those in the first embodiment and the embodiment can be obtained with respect to the miniaturization of the wireless LAN communication device 100, the stabilization of continuous large-capacity communication, and the suppression of the decrease in communication speed.

C. Third Embodiment FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the wireless LAN communication device 600 according to the third embodiment. The wireless LAN communication device 600 according to the present embodiment includes a first wireless communication unit 11, a second wireless communication unit 12, a third wireless communication unit 13, a first antenna unit 20, and a second. It has an antenna unit 30, a wired communication unit 40, a baseband processor 50, a storage unit 60, a control unit 90, a housing 500, and a direction changing unit 530. The wiring that electrically connects the first antenna unit 20 and the first wireless communication unit 11 is provided so as to pass through the inside of the direction changing unit 530. In the present embodiment, the same configurations as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The wireless LAN communication device 600 employs the Yagi-Uda antenna, which is a directional antenna, as the dedicated antenna 21 as in the wireless LAN communication device 100 according to the first embodiment. The directional antenna used as the dedicated antenna 21 includes, for example, a patch antenna.

The housing 500 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the wireless LAN communication device 600 according to the present embodiment, the first to third wireless communication units 11 to 13, the second antenna unit 30, the wired communication unit 40, the baseband processor 50, and the storage unit 60 are included. The control unit 90 is housed in the housing 500. The first antenna portion 20 is arranged outside the housing 500. The direction changing portion 530 is arranged at a connecting portion between the first antenna portion 20 and the housing 500. The outer wall surface 502 of the housing 500 has an intake / exhaust port (not shown). In the present embodiment, the intake / exhaust port includes an intake port as a slit provided at the end on the bottom surface 505 side and an exhaust port as a slit provided at the end on the upper surface 504 side of the outer wall surface 502. Have. The housing 500 is not limited to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and may have other shapes.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the appearance of the wireless LAN communication device 600 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a first side view of the wireless LAN communication device 600 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 14 is a second side view of the wireless LAN communication device 600 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 15 is a first top view of the wireless LAN communication device 600 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 16 is a second top view of the wireless LAN communication device 600 according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 12, the X direction and the Y direction are horizontal directions, and the Z direction is a vertical direction. Further, the + Z direction is the vertically upward direction, and the −Z direction is the vertically downward direction. The bottom surface 505 of the wireless LAN communication device 600 shown in FIG. 12 is installed on a horizontal surface. The state in which the bottom surface 505 is installed on the horizontal surface is also referred to as the installed state of the wireless LAN communication device 600.

The wireless LAN communication device 600 has an antenna accommodating portion 510 as a case for accommodating the first antenna portion 20 inside. The first antenna portion 20 is arranged on the outer wall surface 501 of the housing 500 in a state of being accommodated in the antenna accommodating portion 510. The arrangement outer wall surface 501 is a side surface of the housing 500, and is a surface that rises from the bottom surface 505. The antenna accommodating portion 510 is attached to the housing 500 via the direction changing portion 530.

The dedicated antennas 211 and 212 included in the first antenna unit 20 are arranged on an antenna substrate which is a printed circuit board. Inside the antenna accommodating portion 510, the two dedicated antennas 211 and 212 are arranged so that their maximum gain directions are in the same direction, and their antenna substrates are arranged so as to intersect each other vertically. Here, the term "vertical" includes a state of being substantially vertical, for example, an angle in the range of 85 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less. When the antenna boards intersect vertically, the antenna beams output from the two dedicated antennas 211 and 212 have different polarizations from each other. Since the correlation is reduced by polarization in addition to the distance of the antenna substrate, the first antenna portion 20 can be miniaturized. Further, by reducing the size of the first antenna portion 20 arranged on the outside of the housing 500, it is possible to improve the design of the wireless LAN communication device 600.

In the present embodiment, the first wireless communication unit 11 executes wireless communication in a 2 × 2 MIMO system. In the 2x2 MIMO system, the radio wave output for each antenna can be made higher than that in the MIMO system in which three or more antennas such as the 3x3 MIMO system and the 4x4 MIMO system are used for transmission and reception. When the radio wave output is high, the wireless LAN communication device 600 is capable of wireless communication even under unfavorable conditions for wireless communication as compared with the case where the radio wave output is low. The disadvantageous condition for wireless communication is, for example, a case where the distance from the client device to be communicated is long, a case where there are many shields, or a case where there is a shield having a high radio wave blocking property. The shield is, for example, a wall, a floor, a ceiling, furniture, or the like. The shield having a high blocking property is, for example, a concrete wall or the like. Therefore, for example, when used in a reinforced concrete building, the 2 × 2 MIMO system communicates with client devices arranged on different floors or rooms as compared with the MIMO system that uses three or more antennas for transmission and reception. Is easy. Further, in the 2 × 2 MIMO system, the size of the first antenna unit 20 can be easily reduced as compared with the MIMO system in which three or more antennas are used for transmission / reception. The communication method is not limited to the 2 × 2 MIMO method, and may be another method. For example, a 4 × 4 MIMO system may be adopted. In an environment such as a wooden house where the radio wave blocking property is relatively low, it is possible to communicate with client devices installed on different floors or in different rooms even in the 4 × 4 MIMO system. When the 4 × 4 MIMO system is adopted, the first antenna unit 20 has four dedicated antennas, and these four dedicated antennas are housed inside the antenna accommodating unit 510.

The antenna accommodating unit 510 has a direction display unit 520. The direction display unit 520 constitutes a part of the antenna accommodating unit 510 and is visible from the outside. The direction display unit 520 indicates the maximum gain direction GD of the first antenna unit 20. In the present embodiment, the direction display unit 520 is a part of the wall surface of the antenna accommodating unit 510 and is formed on the GD side in the maximum gain direction. The direction display unit 520 is formed of another member whose color is different from that of the other wall surface of the antenna accommodating unit 510. By forming the direction display unit 520 on the maximum gain direction GD side of the wall surface of the antenna accommodating unit 510, the side on which the direction display unit 520 is located is the maximum gain direction GD without any special operation by the user. Can be easily grasped. The direction display unit 520 is not limited to this, and may indicate the maximum gain direction GD of the first antenna unit 20 by, for example, a shape, a pattern, a color, or a combination thereof. When the direction display unit 520 displays the maximum gain direction GD according to the shape, for example, the direction display unit 520 has a pointed shape at the tip of the direction display unit 520 and the direction display unit 520 has a direction in which the tip faces the maximum gain direction GD. Just place it. When the direction display unit 520 displays the maximum gain direction GD by a pattern, for example, an arrow indicating the maximum gain direction GD may be formed as the direction display unit 520. Further, the direction display unit 520 is a mechanism that indicates the maximum gain direction GD as needed, for example, a mechanism that lights a light source provided on the maximum gain direction GD side portion of the antenna accommodating unit 510 by the operation of the user. You may.

The direction changing unit 530 can change the direction of the dedicated antenna 21 by changing the direction of the antenna accommodating unit 510. By changing the direction of the dedicated antenna 21, the maximum gain direction GD of the first antenna unit 20 is changed. That is, the direction changing unit 530 changes the maximum gain direction GD. Here, it is preferable that the direction changing unit 530 can change the maximum gain direction GD three-dimensionally. That is, it is preferable that the direction changing unit 530 can change the angle formed by the horizontal direction and the maximum gain direction GD, and can change the maximum gain direction GD in the horizontal direction. When the angle between the horizontal direction and the maximum gain direction GD can be changed, the connection destination is installed on a floor different from the floor on which the wireless LAN communication device 600 is installed, as compared with the case where the angle cannot be changed. The maximum gain direction GD can be easily directed. When the maximum gain direction GD in the horizontal direction can be changed, the maximum gain direction GD can be easily directed to the client device without changing the arrangement position of the wireless LAN communication device 600. Further, it is preferable that the direction changing unit 530 can change the maximum gain direction GD so as to be directed in the horizontal direction. By changing the maximum gain direction GD so as to be oriented horizontally, the maximum gain direction GD can be easily directed to the client devices installed on the same floor. As the direction changing portion 530 in which the maximum gain direction GD can be changed three-dimensionally, for example, a hinge mechanism having a plurality of intersecting rotation axes, a bendable flexible arm, or a ball joint can be used. In the present embodiment, the direction changing portion 530 is a hinge mechanism having a first rotation axis dx1 and a second rotation axis dx2, which are two vertically intersecting rotation axes.

The first rotation axis dx1 of the direction changing portion 530 is a rotation axis perpendicular to the arrangement outer wall surface 501. The direction changing unit 530 can change the maximum gain direction GD by rotating around the first rotation axis dx1. The second rotation axis dx2 of the direction changing portion 530 is a rotation axis parallel to the arrangement outer wall surface 501. The direction changing unit 530 can change the maximum gain direction GD by rotating around the second rotation axis dx2. The second rotation axis dx2 rotates around the first rotation axis dx1 in accordance with the rotation of the direction changing unit 530 around the first rotation axis dx1. The direction changing unit 530 can change the maximum gain direction GD in the direction away from or closer to the arrangement outer wall surface 501 by the second rotation axis dx2.

The direction changing unit 530 changes the first rotation angle θ1 centered on the first rotation axis dx1 by rotating the antenna accommodating unit 510 around the first rotation axis dx1. The changeable range of the first rotation angle θ1 is a range of 0 ° or more and 270 ° or less. Here, in the present embodiment, the time when the maximum gain direction GD is in the + Y direction is set as the reference position (the first rotation angle θ1 is 0 °) which is the reference of the first rotation angle θ1. When the first rotation angle θ1 is 90 °, the maximum gain direction GD is the vertically upward direction (+ Z direction) in the installed state. When the first rotation angle θ1 is 180 °, the maximum gain direction GD is the + Y direction in the installed state. When the first rotation angle θ1 is 270 °, the maximum gain direction GD is the vertical downward direction (−Z direction) in the installed state.

The direction changing unit 530 can change the second rotation angle θ2 centered on the second rotation axis dx2 by rotating the antenna accommodating unit 510 around the second rotation axis dx2. The changeable range of the second rotation angle θ2 is a range of 0 ° or more and 90 ° or less. Here, in the present embodiment, when the maximum gain direction GD is the −X direction (the direction perpendicular to the arrangement outer wall surface 501), the reference position that serves as the reference for the second rotation angle θ2 (the second rotation angle θ2 is 0 °). And. When the second rotation angle θ2 is 90 °, the maximum gain direction GD is the direction along the arrangement outer wall surface 501 in the installed state.

For example, as shown in FIG. 13, when the first rotation angle θ1 is 90 °, the antenna accommodating portion 510 is rotated around the second rotation axis dx2 to set the maximum gain direction GD in the vertically upward direction (+ Z). It can be changed in the range from direction) to horizontal direction. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, when the first rotation angle θ1 is 270 °, the antenna accommodating portion 510 is rotated around the second rotation axis dx2 to set the maximum gain direction GD in the vertical downward direction ( It can be changed in the range from −Z direction) to horizontal direction.

As described above, the direction changing unit 530 changes the angle θt (FIGS. 13 and 14) between the maximum gain direction GD and the horizontal direction by having the first rotation axis dx1 and the second rotation axis dx2. It is possible. Specifically, in the present embodiment, by changing the angle θt formed by the horizontal direction and the maximum gain direction GD, the maximum gain direction GD is set to the range from the horizontal direction to the vertically upward direction (FIG. 13) and from the horizontal direction. It can be changed in any range up to the vertical direction (FIG. 14). That is, the maximum gain direction GD can be set upward (elevation angle) or downward (depression angle).

Further, the direction changing unit 530 can change the maximum gain direction GD in the horizontal direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, when the first rotation angle θ1 is 0 °, the antenna accommodating portion 510 is rotated around the second rotation axis dx2 to set the maximum gain direction GD along the XY plane. It can be changed in the range from + Y direction to -X direction. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, when the first rotation angle θ1 is 180 °, the antenna accommodating portion 510 is rotated around the second rotation axis dx2 to set the maximum gain direction GD along the XY plane. It can be changed in the range from -Y direction to -X direction.

Further, in the wireless LAN communication device 600, the antenna accommodating portion 510 accommodating the first antenna portion 20 is arranged on the outer wall surface of the housing 500 (arranged outer wall surface 501 in the present embodiment), and the second antenna portion 30 is provided. It is provided inside the housing 500 (FIGS. 11 and 12). This structure functions as an identification unit that can be visually recognized from the outside for identifying the first antenna unit 20. The identification unit allows the user of the wireless LAN communication device 600 to easily identify the first antenna unit 20. Therefore, the user can distinguish between the first antenna portion 20 which has directivity and needs to adjust the maximum gain direction GD and the second antenna portion 30 which does not have directivity. .. Therefore, in the wireless LAN communication device 600, the user may mistakenly operate the first antenna unit 20 and the second antenna unit 30, or the first antenna unit 20 may be operated when the first antenna unit 20 is operated. It is possible to reduce the troublesomeness caused by the time required for identifying the antenna. The identification unit is not limited to the above structure. For example, when the second antenna portion 30 is provided outside the housing 500, the antenna accommodating portion 510 accommodating the first antenna portion 20 and the accommodating portion accommodating the second antenna portion 30 are provided. It may be identifiable by having different colors. In this case, the difference in color functions as an identification unit. Further, the accommodating portion accommodating the antenna accommodating portion 510 and the second antenna portion 30 may be identifiable by the difference in shape or pattern instead of the color.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the wireless LAN communication device 600, the first antenna portion 20 is arranged on the arrangement outer wall surface 501 which is the side surface of the housing 500 in the vertical use state. Here, the vertical installation means that the angle on the acute angle side formed by the surface having the largest outer shape (outer circumference) of the housing 500 and the horizontal plane (XY plane) is 45 ° or more. It is preferable that the angle formed by the surface having the largest outer shape of the housing 500 and the horizontal plane is substantially vertical in the vertical use state. In the present embodiment, the surface having the largest outer shape of the housing 500 is the arrangement outer wall surface 501 and the outer wall surface 502 facing the arrangement outer wall surface 501. Further, in the vertical use state, the angle formed by the outer wall surfaces 501 and 502 and the horizontal plane is vertical. In the vertical use state of the wireless LAN communication device 600, the installation area in the horizontal direction can be reduced as compared with the horizontal use state. In this embodiment, the circuit boards of the wireless communication units 11 to 13 (FIG. 11) are arranged inside the housing 500 so as to be substantially parallel to the outer wall surface 501. Therefore, when the wireless LAN communication device 600 is installed vertically, the angle formed by the circuit board and the horizontal plane is vertical.

It is preferable that the wireless LAN communication device 600 has a state maintaining mechanism for setting the use state in a vertical position. In this embodiment, the bottom surface 505 functions as a state maintaining mechanism. The state maintenance mechanism is not limited to this. For example, the state maintenance mechanism includes a mechanism for causing the wireless LAN communication device 600 to maintain a vertical use state by a plurality of legs, and a wireless LAN communication device 600 using a part of the outer wall surface of the housing 500 and the legs. It may be a mechanism for maintaining the state of use in a vertical position. Further, the state maintenance mechanism may be provided separately from the housing 500, such as a pedestal for maintaining the use state of the wireless LAN communication device 600 in a vertical position.

Ventilation in the housing 500 via the intake / exhaust port in the wireless LAN communication device 600 will be described. When the air inside the housing 500 becomes hotter than the outside air (outside air) due to the heat generated by the circuit board, the density of the air inside the housing 500 becomes lower than that of the outside air. In this case, due to the buoyancy generated in the air inside the housing 500, the wireless LAN communication device 600 takes in the outside air from the intake port provided on the lower side (bottom surface 505 side) of the outer wall surface 502 of the housing 500. Then, the air inside the housing 500 is exhausted from the exhaust port provided on the upper side (upper surface 504 side) of the outer wall surface 502. That is, the wireless LAN communication device 600 ventilates the inside of the housing 500 by utilizing the so-called chimney effect. When performing ventilation using the chimney effect, it is possible to efficiently ventilate when the height difference between the intake port and the exhaust port is large as compared with the case where the height difference between the intake port and the exhaust port is small. Here, in the wireless LAN communication device 600, it is easier to make a height difference between the intake port and the exhaust port as compared with the wireless LAN communication device in the horizontally used state. Therefore, the wireless LAN communication device 600 can efficiently exchange the air in the housing 500 with the outside air as compared with the wireless LAN communication device in the horizontally used state. Therefore, the wireless LAN communication device 600 can easily suppress the temperature rise as compared with the wireless LAN communication device in the horizontally installed state.

When the first antenna portion 20 is arranged on the upper surface 504 side of the side surface of the housing 500 in the vertically installed use state, or when it is provided on the upper surface 504, it is used horizontally. The first antenna portion 20 can be positioned higher than the state. Since the first antenna portion 20 is provided at a high position, the communication speed is reduced due to the reflection of radio waves on the installation surface of the wireless LAN communication device 600, etc., as compared with the case where the first antenna portion 20 is provided at a low position. Can be suppressed. In the present embodiment, the first antenna portion 20 is arranged on the upper surface 504 side of the arranged outer wall surface 501 with respect to the lower surface 505.

According to the third embodiment described above, since the wireless LAN communication device 600 includes the direction changing unit 530, the maximum gain direction GD can be easily changed three-dimensionally. Therefore, in the wireless LAN communication device 600, a client device (for example, a 4K television or a wireless LAN repeater) is installed in the maximum gain direction GD of the first antenna unit 20 as compared with the case where the direction changing unit 530 is not provided. It can be easily turned in the direction in which it is. For example, by changing the maximum gain direction GD by the direction changing unit 530, the maximum gain direction GD can be directed in the direction in which the client device is installed without changing the arrangement position of the wireless LAN communication device 600.

Further, according to the third embodiment, the wireless LAN communication device 600 can direct the maximum gain direction GD in the direction intersecting the horizontal direction (upward direction or downward direction) (FIGS. 13 and 14). .. As a result, the maximum gain direction GD can be easily directed to the client device installed on a floor different from the wireless LAN communication device 600. For example, suppose that the wireless LAN communication device 600 is installed on the second floor of the house, and the client device is installed on the first floor or the third floor of the house. Here, when the LAN wiring for connecting to the Internet is provided only on the second floor, when moving the wireless LAN communication device to a different floor, it is necessary to route the wired cable to a different floor. If you want to route the wired cable to different floors, you need to lengthen the wired cable. However, according to the wireless LAN communication device 600 according to the present embodiment, the installation position of the wireless LAN communication device 600 is moved from the second floor to the first floor by adjusting the maximum gain direction GD downward by the direction changing unit 530. The maximum gain direction GD can be directed to the client device on the first floor without causing it. Further, by adjusting the maximum gain direction GD upward by the direction changing unit 530, the maximum gain direction GD can be applied to the client device on the third floor without moving the installation position of the wireless LAN communication device 600 from the second floor to the third floor. Can be turned. Since the wireless LAN communication device 600 according to the present embodiment can change the maximum gain direction GD in the vertical direction without significantly changing the installation location, a cable connected to the wireless LAN communication device 600 (for example, to connect to the Internet). The increase in the length of the wired cable) can be suppressed.

Further, according to the third embodiment, the direction changing portion 530 is arranged on the outer wall surface of the housing 500 (in this embodiment, the arrangement outer wall surface 501) (FIG. 13). As a result, the strength of the connection portion between the housing 500 and the direction changing portion 530 can be easily increased as compared with the case where the direction changing portion 530 is arranged at the corner where the plurality of outer wall surfaces intersect.

Further, according to the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 is the second antenna unit when the second wireless communication unit 12 executes wireless communication. It can be higher than the radio wave output of 30. As a result, wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High can be connected to a client device farther away than wireless communication using the 5 GHz band Low. Further, the same effects as those in the first embodiment and the embodiment can be obtained with respect to the miniaturization of the wireless LAN communication device 100, the stabilization of continuous large-capacity communication, and the suppression of the decrease in communication speed.

The wireless LAN communication device 600 is preferably designed so that the maximum gain direction GD of the first antenna unit 20 cannot be directed toward the second antenna unit 30. In the present embodiment, the first antenna portion 20 is arranged on the outer wall surface of the housing 500 (specifically, the arrangement outer wall surface 501), and the second antenna portion 30 is arranged inside the housing 500. The maximum gain direction GD of the first antenna unit 20 cannot be directed toward the second antenna unit 30. The 5 GHz band High used by the first antenna unit 20 for wireless communication and the 5 GHz band Low used by the second antenna unit 30 for wireless communication may interfere with each other. Interference occurs, for example, when the maximum gain direction GD of the first antenna unit 20 faces the second antenna unit 30. This is because the frequency bands of the 5 GHz band High and the 5 GHz band Low are close to each other so that interference can occur. If interference occurs, wireless communication may not be executed normally. Therefore, by designing so that the maximum gain direction GD of the first antenna unit 20 cannot be directed toward the second antenna unit 30, radio wave interference between the 5 GHz band High and the 5 GHz band Low can be suppressed.

D. Fourth Embodiment FIG. 17 is a first schematic view showing the appearance of the wireless LAN communication device 800 according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 18 is a second schematic view showing the appearance of the wireless LAN communication device 800 according to the fourth embodiment. In FIGS. 17 and 18, the wireless LAN communication device 800 is in a vertically installed state like the wireless LAN communication device 600 according to the third embodiment. The first antenna unit 20 for executing wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High in the wireless LAN communication device 800 according to the fourth embodiment has four dedicated antennas (not shown). These four dedicated antennas are separately housed in two antenna housing units 510. Each antenna accommodating portion 510 accommodates a pair of dedicated antennas, which are two dedicated antennas each. The pair of dedicated antennas are arranged so that the maximum gain directions are the same and the substrates intersect vertically. Each antenna accommodating unit 510 has a direction display unit 520 indicating the maximum gain directions GD1 and GD2 of the accommodating pair of dedicated antennas.

In the present embodiment, the two antenna accommodating portions 510 are arranged on the first arrangement outer wall surface 501 and the second arrangement outer wall surface 502 facing each other, respectively. Each antenna accommodating portion 510 is arranged in the housing 500 via the direction changing portion 530. By changing the maximum gain directions GD1 and GD2 three-dimensionally, each direction changing unit 530 can change the maximum gain directions GD1 and GD2 of the respective dedicated antennas housed in the antenna accommodating unit 510 three-dimensionally. be. Therefore, the direction changing unit 530 can change the maximum gain directions GD1 and GD2 of the dedicated antennas housed in each antenna accommodating unit 510 so as to have the same direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the maximum gain directions GD1 and GD2 can be set vertically upward. Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the direction changing unit 530 can be changed so that the maximum gain direction GD1 and the maximum gain direction GD2 face different directions.

The wireless LAN communication device 800 according to the present embodiment can execute 4 × 4 MIMO wireless communication when the maximum gain direction GD of the dedicated antennas accommodated in each antenna accommodating portion 510 is the same. Is. Further, the wireless LAN communication device 800 is a client device in which each pair of dedicated antennas is installed in different directions when the maximum gain direction GD of the dedicated antennas housed in each antenna accommodating portion 510 is in different directions. It can be used for communication with. In this case, each pair of dedicated antennas is used to simultaneously execute 2 × 2 MIMO wireless communication in two directions using the 5 GHz band High. Switching between the 2x2 wireless communication and the 4x4 wireless communication is executed by the control unit 90.

According to the wireless LAN communication device 800 according to the fourth embodiment described above, it is possible to switch between 4 × 4 MIMO wireless communication in one direction and 2 × 2 MIMO wireless communication in two directions. As a result, for a client device that supports 4 × 4 MIMO wireless communication, 4 × 4 MIMO wireless communication having a larger communication capacity than that of the 2 × 2 MIMO can be performed. Further, the wireless LAN communication device 800 is capable of 2 × 2 MIMO wireless communication in two directions capable of wireless communication using client devices installed in different directions and 5 GHz band High, if necessary. ..

Further, according to the fourth embodiment, the first antenna portion 20 is arranged on the outer wall surfaces of the housing 500 facing each other (specifically, the arranged outer wall surfaces 501 and 502), whereby one of the antenna portions 20 is arranged. The maximum gain direction GD1 of the dedicated antenna (one dedicated antenna) housed in the antenna accommodating portion 510 cannot be directed to the dedicated antenna (the other dedicated antenna) housed in the other antenna accommodating portion 510. Further, the maximum gain direction GD2 of the other dedicated antenna cannot be directed to one dedicated antenna. Therefore, it is possible to suppress radio wave interference between 5 GHz band Highs by dedicated antennas housed in separate antenna accommodating units 510.

Further, according to the fourth embodiment, as in the third embodiment, the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 is the second antenna unit when the second wireless communication unit 12 executes wireless communication. It can be higher than the radio wave output of 30. Further, since the wireless LAN communication device 800 includes the direction changing unit 530, the maximum gain direction GD can be easily changed three-dimensionally.

E. Other Embodiment E-1. 1st Other Embodiment In the 1st embodiment, the wireless LAN communication device 100 employs an antenna having directivity and high antenna gain as a dedicated antenna 21 and an omnidirectional antenna as a shared antenna 31. There is. However, the dedicated antenna 21 and the shared antenna 31 are not limited thereto. For example, the dedicated antenna 21 may be an omnidirectional antenna having a high antenna gain such as a high gain dipole antenna. Further, the shared antenna 31 may be an antenna having directivity. Even in this case, as in the first embodiment, the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 can be higher than the radio wave output of the second antenna unit 30 when the second wireless communication unit 12 executes wireless communication. ..

E-2. 2nd Other Embodiment In the 1st embodiment, the wireless LAN communication device 100 increases the antenna gain of the dedicated antenna 21 so that the second wireless communication unit 12 can output the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20. It is higher than the radio wave output of the second antenna unit 30 when performing wireless communication. However, the means for increasing the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 is not limited to this. For example, the wireless LAN communication device 100 increases the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 by increasing both the antenna gain of the first antenna unit 20 and the terminal input power from the first wireless communication unit 11. You may. Specifically, the antenna gain of the first antenna unit 20 is higher than the antenna gain of the second antenna unit 30, and the power amplified by the first power amplifier a1 is amplified by the second power amplifier a2. Make it higher than the power generated. Even in this case, as in the first embodiment, the radio wave output of the first antenna unit 20 can be higher than the radio wave output of the second antenna unit 30 when the second wireless communication unit 12 executes wireless communication. ..

E-3. Third Other Embodiment In the above embodiment, the first wireless communication unit 11, the second wireless communication unit 12, and the third wireless communication unit 13 execute wireless communication using channel bonding. However, it is not limited to this. Even when the first wireless communication unit 11, the second wireless communication unit 12, and the third wireless communication unit 13 do not execute wireless communication using channel bonding, the first wireless communication unit is the same as in the first embodiment. The radio wave output of the antenna unit 20 of 1 can be higher than the radio wave output of the second antenna unit 30 when the second wireless communication unit 12 executes wireless communication. Therefore, the wireless communication using the 5 GHz band High can be connected to the client device farther than the wireless communication using the 5 GHz band Low.

E-4. Fourth Other Embodiment In the third and fourth embodiments, the first antenna portion 20 is arranged on the side surface of the outer wall surface of the housing 500, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first antenna portion 20 may be arranged on the upper surface 504 of the outer wall of the housing 500. In this case, the changeable range of the maximum gain direction GD in the first antenna portion 20 is within the hemisphere with the upper surface 504 as the bottom surface. Further, even when the first antenna portion 20 is arranged on the upper surface 504, when a member having a long dimension such as a flexible arm is adopted as the direction changing portion 530, the first antenna portion 20 is located below the horizontal direction. It is possible to direct the maximum gain direction GD of the antenna portion 20 of the above. Further, the first antenna portion 20 may be arranged at a corner where a plurality of outer wall surfaces intersect, instead of the outer wall surface of the housing 500. Even in this case, the connection with the client device using the first antenna unit 20 is easier than that of the wireless LAN communication device in which the maximum gain direction GD cannot be changed.

E-5. Fifth Other Embodiment In the third and fourth embodiments, the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800 include, but are not limited to, both the direction changing unit 530 and the direction display unit 520. For example, the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800 may not include the direction changing unit 530 but may include only the direction display unit 520. In this case, the user can point the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 indicated by the direction display unit 520 toward the client device by changing the directions of the entire wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800. In this case, the direction display unit 520 may be a housing 500 with a mark such as an arrow. Further, the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800 do not have to include both the direction changing unit 530 and the direction display unit 520. In this case, the user may be able to grasp the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 by the description in the instruction manual or the like. Further, the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800 may have a function of recognizing the maximum gain direction GD via, for example, a wired connection or a wirelessly connected device, instead of the direction display unit 520.

E-6. In the third and fourth embodiments of the sixth embodiment, the direction changing unit 530 can change the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 three-dimensionally, but is not limited thereto. For example, the direction changing unit 530 can change the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 only in the vertical direction, and may not be able to change the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 in the horizontal direction. For example, the direction changing portion 530 may be a hinge mechanism having only a rotation axis capable of changing the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 along a plane parallel to the vertical direction. Even in this case, the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 can be easily directed to the client device installed on a floor different from the wireless LAN communication device 600.

E-7. Seventh Other Embodiments In the third and fourth embodiments, the rotatable range of the direction changing unit 530 is a range of 0 ° or more and 270 ° or less at the first rotation angle θ1, and at the second rotation angle θ2. The range is 0 ° or more and 90 ° or less. However, the rotatable range of the direction changing unit 530 is not limited to this. For example, the first rotation angle θ1 may be an angle that can be changed in a narrower range or a wider range than 0 ° or more and 270 ° or less. Further, for example, the second rotation angle θ2 may be an angle that can be changed in a range narrower than 0 ° or more and 90 ° or less, or may be an angle that can be changed in a range wider than 0 ° or more and 90 ° or less. good. Even in these cases, since the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800 have the first rotation axis dx1 and the second rotation axis dx2, the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 can be changed three-dimensionally. be.

E-8. Eighth Other Embodiment In the third and fourth embodiments, the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800 include an identification unit, but may not be provided. For example, when both the first antenna portion 20 and the second antenna portion 30 are housed inside the housing 500, there is no configuration that functions as an identification unit. In this case, for example, the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800 may not include the direction changing unit 530 and may include the direction display unit 520 on the outer wall surface of the housing 500. Further, for example, in the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800, instead of the direction changing unit 530 and the direction display unit 520, the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 of the first antenna unit 20 via the system by the user are used. It may have a function that enables recognition and change. Further, even when both the first antenna portion 20 and the second antenna portion 30 are arranged outside the housing 500, the identification unit is not essential. For example, in the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800, only the first antenna unit 20 can change the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 by the direction changing unit 530. In this case, even if the first antenna unit 20 cannot be identified, an erroneous operation by the user such as changing the direction of the second antenna unit 30 is suppressed.

E-9. 9th Other Embodiment In the 3rd and 4th embodiments, the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800 further include an antenna accommodating portion 510 due to an impact when the antenna accommodating portion 510 and the arranged outer wall surfaces 501 and 502 come into contact with each other. Further, it may have a protective portion for suppressing damage to the outer wall surfaces 501 and 502. The protective portion is provided on a portion of the outer surface of the antenna accommodating portion 510, which is more likely to come into contact with the arrangement outer wall surface 501 than other portions of the outer surface of the antenna accommodating portion 510. There is. For the protective portion, it is possible to use a cushioning material having a function of softening impact and vibration and making it difficult to transmit to the protected object. The cushioning material is, for example, rubber such as silicon rubber or foamed plastic such as polyethylene foam. Specifically, for example, when the protection unit directs the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 in the directions along the arrangement outer wall surfaces 501 and 502, the protection unit has the arrangement outer wall surfaces 501 and 502 of the surface of the antenna accommodating portion 510. It is preferable that the portion facing the portion is provided and protrudes outward from the other portions. In this case, when the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 are directed along the arrangement outer wall surfaces 501 and 502, the protective portion is more likely to come into contact with the arrangement outer wall surfaces 501 and 502 than the other portions. As a result, it is possible to prevent the outer surface of the antenna accommodating portion 510 other than the portion provided with the protective portion from colliding with the arranged outer wall surfaces 501 and 502, so that the antenna accommodating portion 510 and the arranged outer wall surfaces 501 and 502 are damaged. Can be suppressed. The protective portion does not necessarily have to be provided on the outer surface of the antenna accommodating portion 510. For example, the protective portion may be provided on the outer wall surfaces 501 and 502 of the arrangement.

E-10. Tenth Other Embodiment In the above embodiment, the wireless LAN communication devices 100, 600, and 800 are tri-band wireless LAN communication devices, but are not limited thereto. The wireless LAN communication devices 100, 600, and 800 may be wireless LAN communication devices other than the tri-band wireless LAN communication device. A wireless LAN communication device other than the tri-band wireless LAN communication device is a wireless communication mainly used in addition to the three wireless communication units 11 to 13 or in place of at least one of the three wireless communication units 11 to 13. It is a wireless LAN communication device including another wireless communication unit as a unit. The other wireless communication unit is, for example, a wireless communication unit that executes wireless communication using a different frequency band, or a wireless communication unit that executes wireless communication conforming to a standard different from 802.11. The wireless communication using another frequency band is, for example, wireless communication using a sub-giga band or a 60 GHz band. Wireless communication conforming to a standard different from IEEE802.11 is, for example, wireless communication using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Zigbee (registered trademark).

E-11. Eleventh Other Embodiments In the third and fourth embodiments, the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800 are shown to be in a vertically installed state, but are not limited thereto. The wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800 may have a configuration capable of taking both a vertical use state and a horizontal use state, for example. Further, the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800 may have a configuration capable of only being used in a horizontal position. Even in these cases, since the wireless LAN communication devices 600 and 800 have the first rotation axis dx1 and the second rotation axis dx2, the maximum gain directions GD, GD1 and GD2 can be changed three-dimensionally. be.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be realized with various configurations within a range not deviating from the gist thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the column of the outline of the invention may be used to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems, or one of the above-mentioned effects. It is possible to replace or combine as appropriate to achieve a part or all. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, it can be deleted as appropriate.

11 ... 1st wireless communication unit 12 ... 2nd wireless communication unit 13 ... 3rd wireless communication unit 20, 420 ... 1st antenna unit 21, 211, 212 ... Dedicated antenna 30, 430 ... 2nd antenna unit 31,311,312 ... Shared antenna 40 ... Wired communication unit 50 ... Baseband processor 60 ... Storage unit 90 ... Control unit 100, 400, 600, 800 ... Wireless LAN communication device 200 ... Network system 421, 431 ... Antenna 500 ... Body 501, 502, 504, 505 ... Outer wall surface 510 ... Antenna accommodating unit 520 ... Direction display unit 530 ... Direction changing units a1 to a3, a11 to a32 ... Power amplifiers be1, be2 ... Antenna beams c1, c2, c11 to c22 ... Connector terminals dl, dl1, dl2 ... Demultiplexer fr ... Floor rf1 to rf3, rf11 to rf32 ... rf circuit INT ... Internet CL1 to CL4 ... Client devices R1 to R6 ... Room W1 to W5 ... Wall WH ... Residential

Claims (15)

It is a wireless LAN communication device
A first wireless communication unit that executes wireless communication using the frequency band of 5470-5725 MHz, and
A second wireless communication unit that executes wireless communication using either a frequency band of 5150-5250 MHz or a frequency band of 5250-5350 MHz, and a second wireless communication unit.
A third wireless communication unit that executes wireless communication using the frequency band of 2401-2483 MHz,
The first antenna unit connected to the first wireless communication unit and
A second wireless communication unit and a second antenna unit connected to the third wireless communication unit are provided.
The radio wave output of the first antenna unit defined by the equivalent isotropic radiated power in the bandwidth of 1 MHz is such that the second radio communication unit defined by the equivalent isotropic radiated power in the bandwidth of 1 MHz communicates with the radio wave. Higher than the radio wave output of the second antenna section when executing
Wireless LAN communication device. The wireless LAN communication device according to claim 1.
A wireless LAN communication device in which the antenna gain of the first antenna portion is higher than the antenna gain of the second antenna portion. The wireless LAN communication device according to claim 2.
A wireless LAN communication device in which the directivity of the first antenna portion is higher than the directivity of the second antenna portion. The wireless LAN communication device according to claim 3, further
A housing that accommodates the first wireless communication unit, the second wireless communication unit, and the third wireless communication unit.
It has a rotation axis that changes the direction of the first antenna portion, and includes a direction changing portion that changes the maximum gain direction, which is the direction in which the antenna gain of the antenna beam of the first antenna portion is maximized.
The first antenna portion is a wireless LAN communication device arranged on the outer wall surface of the housing. The wireless LAN communication device according to claim 4, further
A wireless LAN communication device that is an identification unit that can be visually recognized from the outside and includes an identification unit for identifying the first antenna unit. The wireless LAN communication device according to claim 4 or 5.
The direction changing unit is a wireless LAN communication device capable of changing the angle formed by the horizontal direction and the maximum gain direction. The wireless LAN communication device according to claim 6.
The direction changing unit can change the maximum gain direction within a range including at least one of a range from the horizontal direction to the vertically upward direction and a range from the horizontal direction to the vertically downward direction. Communication device. The wireless LAN communication device according to claim 6 or 7.
The direction changing unit is a wireless LAN communication device capable of changing the maximum gain direction in the horizontal direction. The wireless LAN communication device according to any one of claims 4 to 8.
The outer wall surface is a wireless LAN communication device that is a side surface of the housing. The wireless LAN communication device according to any one of claims 4 to 9.
The second antenna portion is a wireless LAN communication device housed inside the housing. The wireless LAN communication device according to any one of claims 3 to 10, further comprising.
A wireless LAN communication device including a direction display unit that is visible from the outside and that indicates a direction display unit that indicates a maximum gain direction in which the antenna gain of the antenna beam of the first antenna unit is maximized. The wireless LAN communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising.
A first power amplifier that amplifies the power input from the first wireless communication unit to the first antenna unit, and
A second power amplifier that amplifies the power input from the second wireless communication unit to the second antenna unit is provided.
A wireless LAN communication device in which the power amplified by the first power amplifier is higher than the power amplified by the second power amplifier. The wireless LAN communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
The first wireless communication unit is a wireless LAN communication device that executes the wireless communication using channel bonding that collectively uses a plurality of channels belonging to the frequency band of 5470-5725 MHz. The wireless LAN communication device according to claim 13.
By using the channel bonding, the first wireless communication unit executes the wireless communication using a bandwidth wider than the bandwidth used for the wireless communication executed by the third wireless communication unit. , Wireless LAN communication device. The wireless LAN communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.
The first antenna portion has a plurality of antennas and has a plurality of antennas.
The first wireless communication unit is a wireless LAN communication device that executes the above-mentioned wireless communication of the MIMO method.

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